When President George Bush announced plans for a “guest-worker” program, I predicted (no great feat for a person of middling intelligence) that Mexicans would come across the border in even greater numbers than before. It doesn’t matter that the program isn’t even a reality yet. Some border patrol officers say Mexican illegals are already asking where to sign up.
It’s bad enough that we lure illegals with promises of amnesty. Now the Mexican government is publishing a book with information on how illegal migrants can survive a border crossing and avoid detection.
Azcentral.com reports the Mexican Foreign Ministry is printing a “colorful new comic book with advice for migrants.” The Ministry claims, “This guide is intended to give you some practical advice that could be of use if you have made the difficult decision to seek new work opportunities outside your country.”
The book is a 32-page publication with drawings showing Mexicans crossing rivers and evading U.S. Border Patrol agents. Though it contains a statement that the Mexican government doesn’t condone migrating illegally, it offers myriad tips for staying alive while doing so. “Thick clothing increases your weight when wet, and this makes it difficult to swim or float.” The reader is also told “…walk during times when the heat is not as intense.”
One caption, with a picture of a woman adding salt to a bottle of water says, “Salt water helps you retain your body’s liquids. Although you’ll feel thirstier, if you drink water with salt the risk of dehydration is much lower.”
The Mexican Foreign Ministry that it is encouraging illegal immigration, stating instead that the only goal is to save lives. Unbelievably, that thought is echoed by the Tucson sector of the Border Patrol. Reporter Chris Hawley quotes a spokesman for the Border Patrol thusly: “If they’ve already gone ahead and made that decision to cross illegally . . . then anything that helps protect lives is worth it.”
One might believe the altruistic motives claimed by the Mexican government if the book didn’t also contain advice for avoiding detection and living in the U.S. once here. The comic warns illegal immigrants to “[a]void attracting attention, at least while you are arranging your stay or documents to live in the United States . . . The best formula is to not alter your routine of going from work to home.”
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The publication of 1.5 million of these “guides” is at best an act of disrespect for our laws, and is blatantly subversive at worst. Our government has no right to tell another government what it may or may not publish, but I wonder if the books are worth losing millions of dollars in American aid? According to USAID, the United States spent $33 million for programs in Mexico last year, many of which are directly related to health and education. That’s $22 for every guide the Mexican government plans to print.
I can see it now — George Bush, looking through one of these comics (confiscated by a Border Patrol officer, no doubt) and slamming it down on the Oval Office floor.
“Get Fox on the horn,” he yells. “Now look Vicente, I’ve bent over backward trying to help you out here. Now you pull this stunt? You stop printing these things now, or I’ll call the bank and stop payment on that $33 million check I just dropped in the mail.”
I know — I’m dreaming. Our president is strong on national security in every area except this one. I’m not sure if it’s the Hispanic vote that has him coddling illegals, or if he really believes that inviting swarms of people across our borders is a good idea. But whether his motives are pure or not, his policy toward illegal immigration is jeopardizing our security. If a nanny or farm worker can sneak in, so can a terrorist bomber.
“So Mike,” you ask, “how many terrorists are sneaking across from Mexico these days?”
Maybe none. After all, we still haven’t plugged all of the more convenient holes. But how do you know that the perpetrator of the next terrorist attack isn’t already here, having come across a wide-open border with Mexico? Sure, it’s not likely, but it will become more likely as we continue to improve our methods for controlling other means of entry.
This isn’t just about homeland security, the economics of migrant labor, or Hispanic voting patterns. It’s a question of right and wrong that goes to the heart of civil order. How can a government expect its citizens to respect and obey the rule of law when non-citizens openly flaunt the law with little or no consequence?
Mr. President, our immigration law, as passed by our representatives, is the expressed will of the people. We expect that law to be enforced. We don’t care what Vicente Fox thinks — we didn’t elect him. We elected you.
Mike North is a professional land surveyor and amateur historian, and former member of the Walker County school board. Send comments to him at Mike@myhumbleopinion.net. To read his past columns or contact him by Internet, visit www.myhumbleopinion.net
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