The Mexican government is giving its consulates in the U.S. wide latitude to ramp up a campaign to toughen their defense of immigrants and plans to give them more resources as well, officials familiar with the strategy said.The move comes as deportations reach an all-time high in the toughest crackdown in decades by the U.S. government and police authorities.
Among the actions under discussion are the creation of an anti-defamation league similar to that focused on protecting Jews; budget increases for some of the 47 consulates, especially in regions such as North Texas, where Mexican migration has been swift and plentiful; and a media campaign aimed at counteracting groups opposed to illegal immigration and sometimes legal immigration.
The effort underscores the tension in U.S. communities grappling with problems created by illegal immigration. And it is sure to further incense groups demanding a crackdown on immigration, both legal and illegal.
“Our fight is no longer inside the Beltway,” said one senior Mexican official, who agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity. “We have been forced to change our strategy.”
But Jean Towell, president of Dallas-based Citizens for Immigration Reform, called the move “arrogant,” saying that the Mexican government does not “have the right to meddle in our affairs.”
“They have come out before saying it is wrong for us to meddle in Mexico’s affairs,” she said. “They are losing human capital. It would be better if they provided the right kind of incentives to keep their people there. It is a no-brainer.”
Mexican government officials gave few additional details about the plan but said it would cover 11 million first-generation citizens, half of whom live in an “irregular migratory situation.”
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, said the plan “is guaranteed to backfire.”
“They may feel that if they want an amnesty, they have to try,” he said. But “they are going to be directly engaging in American politics. That is something American consuls would be deported for.”
Mr. Krikorian said he was surprised by the new approach because Mexico’s U.S. ambassador, Arturo Sarukkhán, usually chooses his words so carefully.
Mr. Sarukkhán could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/mexico/stories/100407dnmetconsulates.368b595.html
I wish they showed half as much interest in their countrymen while they were in Mexico as they do when they are in the US.
Makes me wonder–why dont’ they want them back anyway? Why are they trying to keep them in the US? Is it true that the ones here are the ones they don’t want in Mexico?
I’m hoping it has the same effect as all those protests!
i’m starting to believe that this is a risidual outcome of the Mexican government’s inability to govern it’s own territory.. they have ALWAYS had problems with that… hence the Texas Rebellion of the 1830′s… the less people they have to govern, the less people they have to take care of. not to mention the millions of dollars sent to mexico by illegals in this country… why wouldn’t mexico city want amnesty for illegals and promote illegals to cross the border??
At the risk of repeating myself the Mexican government is colonizing one illegal at a time.