tagged: Arizona, Arizona immigration law, assault weapons, Barack Obama, Calderon, Central America, civil rights, Congress, drug cartels, drugs, gay marriage, human rights, illegal immigration, John Cornyn, Mexican President, Mexico, Obama, Pakistan, Politics, racial profiling, Senator John Cornyn, South America, Taiwan, Texas, Uganda, US-Mexico border

Arizona Immigration Law SB1070 Part II: THE UNEXPECTED DEBATE

Posted by Roxanne Bauer in Politics

Mexican President Calderon visited the US last week and gave a speech to Congress that addressed the recent bill enacted by Arizona and provided his own perspective on the situation.  Calderon questioned the morality of the Arizona law, addressed the economic motivations of immigration to the US, and urged proactive attention be spent on securing the US-Mexico border.  Many Americans have expressed anger over Calderon’s comments and have claimed that Mexico should worry about Mexico and not interfere in the domestic policies of the US.  My reaction to all this is, “Are you joking?!”  Could Americans be any more hypocritical?!  It makes my blood boil.

Firstly, Calderon has a right to express his feelings on the morality of the law and his opinion should be respected.  He stated that, while he respects any nation’s ability to implement laws an to enforce immigration policy, “It is a law that not only ignores a reality that cannot be erased by decree but also introduces a terrible idea using racial profiling as a basis for law enforcement.”  He did not question the US’s ability to pass such a law, but only the moral implications of such a law.

Countries do this all the time.

The US government and Americans are quite active in denouncing and supporting laws passed in other countries.  Obama recently condemned Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law, Tawain has rejected China’s Anti-Secession laws, and the US and Pakistan disagree on the use of drones in the fight on terrorism. Discussion within democracies as well as BETWEEN democracies is one of the most remarkable aspects of that system of government and allows for progress, coordination, and transparency.

Besides, Calderon has a point, the law in Arizona does little to change the reality of illegal immigration into the US and the causes of the movement.  There are real reasons for immigrating from Mexico, and other Central and South American countries to the US.  Employment is easier to find, housing is better, and it is safer to live in the US.

Calderon recognized this, and says his country is doing what it can to promote jobs and other opportunities in Mexico to reduce the stream of immigrants to the US.

While it is debatable if any of the steps his government has taken is effective, his recognition of the economic state of affairs is commendable.  Without recognizing and implementing programs to assist the Mexican economy and those of other struggling Central and South American countries, illegal immigration will continue.  This may require some benevolence on the part of the US government to encourage better trade agreements, but the US can’t have it’s cake and eat it too.

In regards to border security and the safety of American and Mexican citizens, I think Calderon was right to advocate the renewal of an American law banning assault weapons that has expired.

Calderon stated that, “We cannot ignore the fact that the challenge to our security has roots on both sides of the border,” which referenced the relatively open market for firearms in the US.  Many of the firearms purchased for third parties in the US are for Mexican drug gangs. Previously, a Federal law banned the sale of certain assault weapons to civilians, but this law has expired in September 2004. Since its expiration, an estimated 23,000 gun-violence deaths over three years has occurred in Mexico. Calderon urged a renewal of the ban to help fight the drug violence within his country.

In response to all this, Senator John Cornyn of Texas asserted that he respects President Calderon and his commitment to fight the cartels, but he doesn’t, “think Americans ought to give up any of their freedoms in order to address another country’s problems.”

Cornyn should have thought before he spoke.  I agree that Americans should be weary of limiting their freedoms, but assault weapons can hardly be considered a basic necessity.  Considering that the previous ban on assault weapons and the fact that other firearms are still allowed, renewing a sanction on assault weapons should be considered an act of security, not an impingement on freedom.

Additionally, the war on drug cartels, the violence created by the drug trade, and subsequent illegal immigration to the US is not just Mexico’s problem- it’s the US’s problem too.  People die on both sides of the border due to the drug trade, income generated from the trade is of consequence to both countries, and as addressed earlier, immigration to the US is a major US concern.

I support Calderon’s speech and the fuel he added to the fire.  He should not be criticized for expressing his concerns, and Americans should listen to what he has to say. Illegal immigration is, as he stresses, of concern to both countries, with roots in both countries.

A little solidarity and teamwork goes a long way.

No matter where you stand in regards to illegal immigration in the US, it should be clear that both countries can accomplish more together than by standing alone.

Side-by-side, border-by-border, we must work together.

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