W. Alan Beckelheimer "Something To Think About ..." Published Jan. 12, 2005

Mexico encourages its citizens to break immigration laws

Mexican immigrants hoping to cross the Mexico-U.S. border can use an illustrated guide to help them break U.S. immigration laws and live in the United States illegally.

The 32-page booklet, free with popular comic books and advertised at bus stations and government offices south of the border, comes courtesy of the Mexican government.

"This is a bad idea because it encourages more people to come," said Rick Oltman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "Now they have the added incentive of the Mexican government telling them how to survive the trip."

The book's main focus seems to be instructing people on how to cross the border safely. For example, it warns Mexicans that when crossing the border, "thick clothing increases your weight when wet and makes it difficult to swim or float" and "if you cross in the desert, try to walk when the heat is not as intense."

"At end of the day, this is about the survival of individuals who we know unfortunately are perishing in desert," said Angelica Salas of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights.

The guide also gives advice on how to live unobtrusively in the United States, advising illegals not to beat their wives or go to loud parties because either action may attract the attention of police.

While some studies claim illegal immigrants help the U.S. economy by providing cheap labor, others complain they cost taxpayers billions in welfare and education costs. Good or bad, they are breaking U.S. law, and the Mexican government seems to be helping them.

While America is having such problems with outsourcing of our industrial and manufacturing jobs, our workers don't need the extra competition that exists in the form of illegal immigrants to our great nation.

Americans are increasingly finding that the jobs that workers have relied on for years to provide a livelihood are drying up, forcing them into positions that often feature low wages and split shifts.

Our borders are vital to the security of our nation, now more than ever. By allowing the Mexican government to flagrantly instruct its citizens how to leave their economically impoverished country and survive without detection once here illegally, we hindering the efforts of our border patrol to keep our borders secure and American citizens safe.

What's more, with an ever increasing budget deficit, America cannot continue to blindly foot the bill for education, social programs and other services used by illegal immigrants who don't necessarily put in what they take out of our social welfare system.

If this booklet were put out by a private institution, I would not have such a problem with it. I realize immigrants come into our nation illegally every day and that most Americans are of immigrant origin, but there comes a point in time when America has to put itself first in some instances. This is one of them.

If the Mexican government wants economic well-being for its citizens, let them institute reforms to make their country a better place. Or if Mexico so desires its citizens to live in the United States that it can print a booklet advocating to them that they break the laws of our nation, maybe it is time our government print a booklet on how to annex a neighbor to the south?

If Iraqi or Afghani leaders printed out such a booklet, they would have received condemnation from the Bush administration for subverting American democracy. What was the Bush administration's response to the news concerning this booklet? Nothing.

If these trends continue, I would advise anyone reading this column to go take a Spanish class. I am sure there are illustrated manuals for that too.

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W. Alan Beckelheimer is a Crossville Chronicle staffwriter. His column appears Wednesdays in the Chronicle.