WASHINGTON — Mexican President Felipe Calderon took his opposition to a new Arizona immigration law to Congress Thursday, saying it "ignores a reality that cannot be erased by decree."
Calderon's comments on the Arizona law and his request that Congress do something about the availability of high-powered weapons along the border drew criticism from several lawmakers saying he was interfering in U.S. internal matters.
The Mexican leader also told lawmakers reluctant to take up the immigration issue this year that comprehensive immigration reform is crucial to securing the two countries' common border.
Calderon, the first foreign national leader to address Congress this year, said he strongly disagrees with the Arizona law that requires police to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they are in the country illegally.
"It is a law that not only ignores a reality that cannot be erased by decree but also introduces a terrible idea using racial profiling as a basis for law enforcement," he said to cheers, mainly from the Democratic side of the chamber.
Speaking in English, he warned of the risk when "core values we all care about are breached."
Arizona's senior Republican senator, John McCain was not present at the joint meeting, while the office of Jon Kyl, the other Arizona senator, did not respond immediately to inquiries about whether Kyl was present. McCain attended a lunch with Calderon at the State Department Wednesday.
McCain issued a statement that it was "unfortunate and disappointing the president of Mexico chose to criticize the state of Arizona by weighing in on a U.S. domestic policy issue during a trip that was meant to reaffirm the unique relationship between our two countries."
And broaching another highly sensitive issue, Calderon urged Congress to restore a ban on assault weapons, saying easy access to high-powered weapons is contributing to drug-related violence along the border.
Calderon also took up the Arizona law in a meeting Wednesday with President Barack Obama, who referred to the law as a "misdirected expression of frustration."
The Mexican leader said his country was doing its best, by promoting more jobs and opportunities at home, to reduce the flow of immigrants to the United States.
But he stressed the "need to fix a broken and inefficient system ... the time has come to reduce the causes of migration and to turn this phenomenon into a legal, ordered and secure flow of workers and visitors."
Obama is pressing lawmakers to take up legislation that would deal with border security, employment and citizenship. It is questionable whether Congress, in an election year, has an inclination to tackle such a highly sensitive issue.
Calderon also got a standing ovation from Democrats when he asked the United States to stop the flow of assualt weapons and other arms across the border and reinstate the ban on many assault weapons that was enacted in 1994 but allowed to expire during the George W. Bush presidency.
He said there are more than 7,000 gun shops along the border where almost anyone can purchase weapons.
Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn said it was inappropriate for Calderon to lecture Americans on state and local law. He defended the Arizona law and added: "moreover, the Second Amendment is not a subject open for diplomatic negotiation, with Mexico or any other nation."
Calderon led off his 40-minute speech by emphasizing Mexico's war against narcotics traffickers that has left roughly 23,000 dead since the end of 2006.
But he added that "we cannot ignore the fact that the challenge to our security has roots on both sides of the border." He cited a statement from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that, At the end of the day, it is high demand for drugs in the United States and elsewhere that drives much of the illicit trade.
Also attending the speech were Attorney General Eric Holder, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Democrats gave Calderon a rousing cheer when he said Mexico planned to have universal health care by 2012 and said that would be one less reason for Mexicans to migrate to the United States. He got smiles and applause from Republicans, as well as Democrats, when he said that in Mexico's efforts to recover from the recession no taxpayer money went to bail out banks.
Calderon broke into Spanish briefly to address Mexicans now living in the United States, saying Mexicans admire and miss them and are working to protect their rights.
cjmnews posted at 11:02 am on Thu, May 20, 2010.
Complain away. It really does not matter that your interpretation is incorrect. Let's hope the law works as intended and we see a reduction in expenses in this state due to reduced numbers of illegals.
SunTea posted at 11:56 am on Thu, May 20, 2010.
Really ?! What nerve. A lot of people in various countries are waiting to be LEGALLY APPROVED to live in the USA. They are going through the immigration PROCESS. Legally. Somehow Mexico feels entitled. Obviously. I'm so glad to see the law finally cracking down on ILLEGAL immigration. And Mexico needs to start taking care of it's own people.
Maybe they need help with that, ?, since they are not successful.... but they certainly aren't entitled to tell us what to do.
SunTea posted at 11:58 am on Thu, May 20, 2010.
And I agree, complain away ! Complain till you are blue in the face. Then go away.
Really posted at 12:02 pm on Thu, May 20, 2010.
This is a complete joke. Mexican law for illegal immigrants. 1st time offense, you are charged as a felon and can be jailed for 2 years, 2nd offense, jailed for 10 years, and if you violate your visa (like extend your stay) you are are jailed for 6 years. I think he is the pot calling the kettle black here. Oh yeah, to become a citizen in Mexico you have to prove that you can supoort yourself for an extended period of time so that you are not a drain on their economy and society.
RollerCam posted at 1:43 pm on Thu, May 20, 2010.
Remember Ceasar Chavez? He used to hire goons to go down to the Mexican border and bust heads on the illegals that would try to come north. Ol' Ceasar knew that these campesinos would dilute his UFW union in CA, so he wanted them to STAY in Mexico.
"Phil" Caulderon knows the same thing. He wants HIS raza members to have first choice of any employment in the USA. They send they checks home to Meheeeco. Phil wants the Guatemalans to stay in Guatemala and he hires goons to beat, rape and rob them as a warning to STAY OUT OF MEXICO.
Phil obviously learned a lesson from Ceasar.
ArizonaRising posted at 3:31 pm on Thu, May 20, 2010.
Mexico is a failed nation. Good ole' Felipe should be more concerned about where he's going to flee to when the violence he's initiated against rival cartels to his own engulfs Mexico City. One thing is for sure, he won't be coming here. The door is closed, amigo. Find a hole to crawl into...
samkat posted at 4:29 pm on Thu, May 20, 2010.
It will be interesting to see how long it takes the democrats to start pushing amnesty. Of course, I think even Obama is astute enough to recognize the the mood of the country is negative on any form of amnesty. He will probably try to back door it by calling off the border patrol and ICE.
geriatric1943 posted at 8:58 pm on Thu, May 20, 2010.
I hope that in the coming election that pictures of everyone who applauded Calderon will be displayed in every commercial by those running against them.
For whatever the reason, any politician who supports amnesty for illegal immigrants should be voted out of office. Of course, in every big town where there are Democrat leaders we will find appeasers of La Raza, the most racist organization in this country.
allamer posted at 10:08 pm on Thu, May 20, 2010.
What an attitude this guy has! He comes here and insults U.S. law and Arizona law---and Congressional Democrats applaud. Then the President gave some words in solidarity with Calderone. So as citizens, we are disrespected by our Congress and President as well as Calderone. And he doesn't want Americans to think that anything can realistically be done to stop his citizens from continuing to come here illegally. He says that we should allow them to come here in a more orderly way. I guess he forgot about all of the Mexicans who come here legally. In fact, of the 1.5 million legal immigrants who come here each year, most are from Mexico. But we citizens should just believe and accept whatever the "leaders" tell us.
Marcus Gallio posted at 10:52 pm on Thu, May 20, 2010.
Santa Ana Calderone muled up the load of junk for O'Bonehead and Gas Can Jan Napolitano (she made sure there were no inspections of his luggage). Then he spat at the great State of Arizona. Now he has to fly back to the cess-pool south of us. I hope our Warrior Princess of a Governor would equip our Arizona National Guard with Sidewinders. She's doing a great job, just needs all the tools we can give here. Long Live Legal Immigration. It makes us STRONGER.
AZMomma posted at 4:52 am on Fri, May 21, 2010.
Calderone is El Jefe de Los Bichos - The Chief of the VERMIN.
He insults the US, disrespects the American people and for some unfathomable reason thinks he has the right to tell us how to run our country.
News flash: Calderone is not a credible figure in AZ - or the US. Any elected official bending a knee to him needs to be removed from office for TREASON immediately.
Masterrogue666 posted at 6:12 am on Fri, May 21, 2010.
Want to see how two-faced Calderon is?
Check out this link:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/wolf-blitzer-puts-president-felipe-calderon-on-the-defensive-over-mexicos-immigration-laws/
Try cleaning up the mess in your country first!
ajmama2 posted at 11:17 am on Fri, May 21, 2010.
PLEASE go to: http://www.usillegalaliens.com/
There's a lot to read there, take your time--with every page I read, I get more PO'd about what our country is becoming. I USED to vote mostly Democrat--notice I said USED to. As far as I'm concerned, every freaking Dem that gave this POS a standing ovation needs to get the boot! I am ashamed to say I voted for Obama--I bought his line ONCE--ain't gonna happen again!
ajmama2 posted at 11:32 am on Fri, May 21, 2010.
PLEASE go to: http://www.usillegalaliens.com/
There's a lot to read there, take your time--with every page I read, I get sick about what our country is becoming. I USED to vote mostly Democrat--notice I said USED to. As far as I'm concerned, every Dem that gave him a standing ovation needs to get the boot! I am ashamed to say I voted for Obama--I bought his line ONCE--ain't gonna happen again!
ajmama2 posted at 11:48 am on Fri, May 21, 2010.
There's a lot to read at the following link, take your time--with every page I read, I get sicker about what our country is becoming. PLEASE go to: http://www.usillegalaliens.com/
I USED to vote mostly Democrat--notice I said USED to. As far as I'm concerned, every Dem that gave Calderon a standing ovation needs to get the boot! I am ashamed to say I voted for Obama--I bought his line ONCE--ain't gonna happen again!
ajmama2 posted at 11:57 am on Fri, May 21, 2010.
OOPS-sorry about multiple posts above!
Nevr Wong posted at 1:47 pm on Mon, Apr 4, 2011.
What gives Calderon and Mexico the right to criticize anything Arizona does???