Mexican Officials Warn of Anti-Mexican Sentiment in U.S.

(Mexico City, Mexico) Seven members of the Mexican Senate visited Arizona last month and reported that the American public is becoming increasingly intolerant of illegal aliens. Written by Sen. Mariano Gonzalez Zarur, the official report warns of a "desolate panorama" of public sentiment toward invading illegals.

"The anti-Mexican climate in the state of Arizona is undeniable," delegation member Miguel Sadot Sanchez Carreno said in a separate statement. "The anti-Mexican atmosphere that prevails there, far from diminishing, is being felt with ever-increasing force."

Besides complaints about Americans not wanting trespassers, the report contains other nuggets, particularly regarding Proposition 200. As a reminder, Prop 200 requires proof of citizenship to vote and denies certain welfare benefits to illegals.

The report calls for the Mexican government to give more support to groups fighting Proposition 200 in court, and to lobby against similar measures in other states.

It calls for Mexico to keep pressuring the United States to reform its immigration laws and suggests a campaign to improve the image of migrants among Americans. [Emphasis mine]

It also recommended further visits by lawmakers, saying they "will permit us to continue giving the support that our compatriots in the United States so need, especially the most destitute, who are the undocumented, in light of the xenophobia and discrimination they encounter in that country, as highlighted by the state of Arizona."

All the dismay and criticism coming from the Mexican side of the border occurs at the same time that Hispanic gangs are terrorizing parts of Los Angeles and other major cities, law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed with illegal aliens committing crimes, and health care providers are gasping for financial help. And, the American public is forced to pay the bill. I believe the United States has more reason to complain about the border situation than Mexico.

One really disturbing aspect of the border situation is the smug arrogance of the Mexican government and people toward the U.S. It's as if Mexico is entitled to trespass on U.S. territory and claim ownership of rights granted in the Constitution. For some bizarre reason, Washington lets cocky Mexican President Vincente Fox get off with a free pass. One thing is sure, President Bush and Congress had better do something to control the border soon. The issue is a political time bomb and I don't think our leaders realize the level of anger seething in the minds of the public. For those that can't understand why, consider for a moment all you've read and heard about women who have been raped. Without exception, they describe the trauma and sense of horror they feel from being violated. It's tattooed on their psyche. That feeling of being violated is the reaction Americans have about foreigners trespassing in the U.S. The government is trusted and supported to the extent that the citizenry feels safe. Simply keeping current on the news will show that people have a reason not to feel safe. One of the fences bordering the U.S. has fallen and, across the political divide, people feel they are being violated. Americans are mad and getting madder. Mexicans are smug and getting more demanding and arrogant.

I'll close by mentioning that a number of bloggers have been covering the insecure border problem, dedicated to getting the word out to the public. I personally have relied on Diggers Realm and Michelle Malkin to keep informed and I avoid writing about immigration issues until I've consulted their sites. Also, a new group blog, The Immigration Blog, has been launched by Michelle Malkin to focus exclusively on immigration. All are highly recommended.