Obama, Calderon pledge solidarity as issues mount
In a showy display of solidarity, President Barack Obama welcomed Mexican President Felipe Calderon to the White House on Wednesday and pledged cooperation on immigration, a violent drug war and economic struggles on both sides of the border.
Looming over Calderon's state visit is Arizona's controversial immigration law, which makes it a crime under state law to be in the U.S. illegally. Facing pressure at home, Calderon took on the law directly Wednesday, saying it encourages discrimination. He called for the U.S. and Mexico to work together to solve the complex, politically sensitive immigration issue.
Discrimination. Poor things. The hypocrisy is legion. The Mexican government demands that the US allow a free flow of Mexicans across it's border while militantly (literally) defending it's southern border.
Lawless roads: Mexico's southern border
Mexico’s southern border stretches for 960km (600 miles), snaking through remote highlands and thick jungle. Patrolling it is hard. So the government has sought to erect a “vertical border,” with army and police checkpoints spaced at 25km intervals along roads, as well as the railway that many migrants use after they have crossed the border. This strategy has forced migrants into the hills, where many fall victim to criminal gangs.And if you get caught sneaking into Mexico? It's a felony with a mandatory 4 year sentence. In case you didn't know a 4 year sentence in a Mexican prison is a life sentence, most likely.
It sounds as though Mexico has the solution! Put the Army on the border. Problem solved. Moving on....next topic NAFTA. So Mr President why don't you want free trade with Mexico?
UPDATE: The law was 2 years for first offense and 10 years for the second offense. That changed 2 years ago and now it is the same as our law. Detention and deportation. Except they actually do it.
