Does Mexico Accept Illegal Immigration?

This question is not necessarily relevant to the very hot immigration debate in the United States. Mexico’s government has raised this slightly, however, in its sometimes harsh criticism of U.S. immigration policies. But Mexico also receives many immigrants. Can Mexico be accused of imposing a double-standard on the U.S.? Some conservatives have suggested this.



The answer isn’t quite as clear as the conservatives suggest, but I can say that on a constitutional level, Mexico is not particularly protective of immigrant (even illegal) immigrants. Here is Chapter III of the Constitution of the United Mexican States:



Foreigners …have the right to the guarantees of Chapter I [individual rights]. . . but the Executive of the Union has the exclusive right to expel from the national territory, immediately and without necessity of judicial proceedings, all foreigners whose stay it judges inconvenient. Foreigners may not, in any manner, involve themselves in the political affairs of the country.



I hasten to add that Mexico’s President may not actually exercise this rather awesome sounding power (in the U.S., for instance, the President doesn’t possess a similar power, although Congress might). The real test is how these policies work on the ground.



But the larger point needs to be kept in mind about the immigration debate. Although it has undeniable international consequences, restricting or opening a country to immigration is mostly a domestic dispute as well. All countries, whether they be France or Mexico or the U.S., seem fairly divided domestically about waves of illegal immigration. The U.S. is neither worse or better in this regard, than, say Mexico, which is not exactly a haven for non-legal immigrants either. So, those who live in glass houses…