Um, Subby, seems to me that the Mexican government is welcoming American immigrants, without so much as a hassle for their troubles. Maybe because the Mexican government and people know deep down, that they need Americans to do certain jobs. You know, like run the fast food restaurants, own the landscaping companies, and operate the office buildings that need to be cleaned.

\Good for the Mexican government on taking the high road. Still doesn't excuse the fact that being here without documentation is still a crime.

Deadhouseplants: Um, Subby, seems to me that the Mexican government is welcoming American immigrants, without so much as a hassle for their troubles. Maybe because the Mexican government and people know deep down, that they need Americans to do certain jobs. You know, like run the fast food restaurants, own the landscaping companies, and operate the office buildings that need to be cleaned.

\Good for the Mexican government on taking the high road. Still doesn't excuse the fact that being here without documentation is still a crime.you have American dollars...bienvenidos!

I lived in Mexico for a year and part of it was illegal (accidentally - I trusted a Mexican citizen to get me into the country legally and he assumed the process that worked for him also worked for me). However, the government helped me work the issue out with little fuss since I could prove my entry date and point (still had the car receipt we received at the border crossing).

Living in Mexico was nice and the government was easy to work with.. but I think we're comparing apples to oranges. The Mexicans with money don't want to move to the US and the US citizens that can afford to live a good life in Mexico want to move there. Its a simple economics problem.

Who would you want to invite to your tupperware party.. someone who has money or someone who doesnt?

All these old white people are taking the jobs of the hard working Mexicans. Tomaron nuestros trabajos!

Stupid hamburger eating fatasses! Send them back!

Fine, all you illegals who are comparatively rich step up for your amnesty.....

Mexico doesn't care about American immigrants. They only care about the Guatemalan and Costa Rican immigrants, who are immediately deported.

Illegal immigration can't be stopped. When you allow free flow of capital but not free flow of labor, this is what happens. You're pissing in the wind if you think the law will stop it. Better to welcome them into the legal economy and enjoy the tax revenue.

So how do you give amnesty to those who are in the country legally?

When they interview some central americans that are in Mexico illegally that report being treated just like the people who have legally immigrated, I will believe that mexico has a more kinder immigration policy. Until then I will remain a little skeptical.

Given how they've treated illegals from south, like from Guatemala... any other support for this claim of "Mexico 'opens it arms' to immigrants" claim.

On Halloween

We wear masks because we are here....ILLEGALLY!

As a legal immigrant, I say illegal immigration law should work like this:

First offense: illegal immigrants get a special RDIF chip in the back of the neck before being sent home.

Second offense: they are enslaved. They legally become animals and the property of the government for three years.

Third offense or violent criminal acts: American Gladiators 2: Foreigners With Swords.

Deadhouseplants: Still doesn't excuse the fact that being here without documentation is still a crime.

Generally not. In most cases, it is a purely civil matter handled by administrative adjudication.

stiletto_the_wise: Illegal immigration can't be stopped. When you allow free flow of capital but not free flow of labor, this is what happens. You're pissing in the wind if you think the law will stop it. Better to welcome them into the legal economy and enjoy the tax revenue.

Exactly.

Not one American shown in the (Al Jazeera!) story , by the way) is illegal. It says it's hard to know how many illegal Americans there are. I'm going to go out on a limb and say, virtually none. Why should there be, when Mexico is delighted to have them as tourists and residents who spend lots of money? The vast bulk of the illegals in Mexico are natives of other Central- and South-American countries. Up until relatively recently, the Mexican Army was shooting them attempting to cross at Mexico's Southern border.

jjorsett: (Al Jazeera!)

I know you might not think much of Al Jazeera.

But do you hear that? That is the sound of Al Jazeera pissing away some hard-earned credibility (with some people) with a fairly bullshiat story

Taking jobs as opposed to spending mounds of retirement cash.

Oh, sorry, my PC moral equivalence shock implant seems to be on the fritz again.

One million Americans live in Mexico? Damn.

Dr.Zom: One million Americans live in Mexico? Damn.

Less than one percent of the US population. That isn't too bad.

Does seem odd that the Mexican government is a lot friendlier to the gringos up North than their Southern neighbors.

Americans living in mexico have significantly higher incomes than the locals. as simple as that.

no citation needed

Deadhouseplants: Um, Subby, seems to me that the Mexican government is welcoming American immigrants, without so much as a hassle for their troubles. Maybe because the Mexican government and people know deep down, that they need Americans to do certain jobs. You know, like run the fast food restaurants, own the landscaping companies, and operate the office buildings that need to be cleaned.

\Good for the Mexican government on taking the high road. Still doesn't excuse the fact that being here without documentation is still a crime.

The Mexican government is so corrupt it makes Washington look squeaky clean.

In Mexico:

Mexicans have priority over foreigners under equality of circumstances for all classes of concessions and for all employment, positions, or commissions of the Government in which the status of citizenship is not indispensable. Foreigners can serve in the military only during wartime.[3]

Only Mexicans by birth or naturalization and Mexican companies have the right to acquire ownership of lands, waters, and their appurtenances, or to obtain concessions for the exploitation of mines or of waters.[4]The Mexican government may grant this right to foreigners if they agree before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to invoke the protection of their own governments in any matters relating to the property they wish to buy.

Oh, like you haven't been in worse places.

This video is total bs. Go ask all those illegals crossing the Mexican border from Guatemala how well they're treated. They're abused by the gangs, the police, and the federales. The only people that help the illegals are the locals who feed, house and provide them medical care.

The majority of the Americans who are in San Miguel de Allende are retirees with good incomes, not dirt poor, illiterates who are going to be feeding off Mexico's free social programs (not that there are any).

AR55: Does seem odd that the Mexican government is a lot friendlier to the gringos up North than their Southern neighbors.

Yeah, and it's odd that I prefer a choice ribeye as opposed to a tofu-burger.

Write it off to personal taste I guess.

What a load of irresponsible crap.

1. the "illegal aliens" are all wealthy people bringing money INTO mexico. How would they feel about illegals comming in and TAKING JOBS and SENDING MONEY out of the country....
http://www.cis.org/articles/2002/back702.html

2. How about land ownership. Immigrants cannot own property in mexico.
I would like to see set of "reciprocating laws" Basically if the country of nationality does not allow our citizens to own property, then neither can theirs here in the US.

3. Legal systems. How would you rate your chances for a fair trial in Mexico? Scale of 1 to 10 I would say -3

veale728: Mexico doesn't care about American immigrants. They only care about the Guatemalan and Costa Rican immigrants, who are immediately deported.

If they aren't killed out-right, the lucky ones get deported.

RIDING ON TOP OF TRAINS....NOW THATS CRAZY!!!

Wackity shmackity doo

sillysillysilly: 3. Legal systems. How would you rate your chances for a fair trial in Mexico? Scale of 1 to 10 I would say -3

Is that scale in pesos? because 3 probably isn't enough. Even 10 seems a little cheap, but go ahead and start low. Eventually you'll reach the "fair trial" level.

/in America we have lawyers to mediate that transaction!

Dern, they took yur trabaho!

dey took ther jorbs!

I'm about as liberal as they get, but I cannot take any story from Al Jazeera seriously.

The Mexican government is welcoming wealthy white people into Mexico. Guatemalans, not so much. They wind up being caught by the federales, beaten to within an inch of their lives, and stripped of anything of value. If they're LUCKY they get deported back to Guatemala.

White people, or anyone with money? Bienvenidos a Mexico, Senor!

At least the US only deports illegal immigrants. Rounded up, given full meals, and a free trip back home.

Al Jazeera, living up to its deserved reputation of "Anything Anyone Does Is Better Than What America Does.. except Israel. Fark them even more."

They took our yobs!

Do you boys like Mexico?

veale728: Mexico doesn't care about American immigrants. They only care about the Guatemalan and Costa Rican immigrants, who are immediately deported.

THIS

That clip was completely misleading. As others have noted there's no reason for Mexico to be upset with most American illegals living there as most of them are probably retirees who bring lots of American money into Mexico.

The illegals Mexico is concerned about are the ones that are more like what we typically get here. They are poor, out of work, and are going to send most of the money they earn back to their families back home.

To be fair I do feel that the quota of new citizens needs to be raised here to accommodate the amount that want to live here. I also have no problem with people that want to earn their citizenship. It's a great country, why wouldn't they?

stiletto_the_wise: Illegal immigration can't be stopped. When you allow free flow of capital but not free flow of labor, this is what happens. You're pissing in the wind if you think the law will stop it. Better to welcome them into the legal economy and enjoy the tax revenue.

I do not agree.

HowDareYouCallMeAHoser: stiletto_the_wise: Illegal immigration can't be stopped. When you allow free flow of capital but not free flow of labor, this is what happens. You're pissing in the wind if you think the law will stop it. Better to welcome them into the legal economy and enjoy the tax revenue.

I do not agree.

Ok.

Al-Jazeera tv is like watching FOX through a mirror.

HowDareYouCallMeAHoser: stiletto_the_wise: Illegal immigration can't be stopped. When you allow free flow of capital but not free flow of labor, this is what happens. You're pissing in the wind if you think the law will stop it. Better to welcome them into the legal economy and enjoy the tax revenue.

I do not agree.

It doesn't matter - any more than it matters if you "agree" with gravity when you are standing under a falling piano.

Wow, sure is a good thing the purpose of Medicare is human health, not making a profit like a bank.

Well thank god Mexico is setting the example for us. Otherwise how would we know what to do?

I almost feel sorry for anyone that thinks this story has a valid point. Almost. Still laughing.

There are over 111 million Americans in Mexico. Nearly 34 million Americans in Canada. Almost 191 million in Brazil. Etc.

US citizens considering the USA "America" and themselves the only "Americans" is just one of the many reasons many people around the world dislike American tourists.

I think it's only fair that we enforce our southern border the same way Mexico enforces their southern border.

I wonder how many of the white illegal immigrants are committing violent crimes, hit-and-runs because they don't have insurance, running drugs, popping out babies by the dozen, etc.

Wow, Mexico doesn't mind people with money coming into their country and spending it - - what a surprise.

Now, let's guesstimate what would happen if thousands of poor people from Haiti suddenly flooded into those same towns.

stiletto_the_wise: Illegal immigration can't be stopped. When you allow free flow of capital but not free flow of labor, this is what happens.

No this is what happens when you have virtually zero internal enforcement for 25 years. All these businesses that have been getting busted with the token enforcement recently have been operating that way for 10-20 years and everyone knew it. INS and ICE never did a thing.

I lived in Mexico D.F. for 12 years. I had a mexican green card and was never checked by anyone. I cant say I miss living in that shait hole...