# Should The USA Adopt Mexican Law (RE. Illegal Aliens)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 21, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296 "2010-05-21T19:59:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/1 "2010-05-21T19:59:12Z")
Mexican President Calderon, in his address to a joint session of Congress, denounced the recently passed Arizona law (intended to curb the influx of illegal aliens into the state). My question: in the spirit of reciprocity, shoud the USA adopt the Mexican laws dealing with the search and control of non-citizens (who have entered the country illegally)? I am all for reciprocity in this situation-what say you all?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/2 "2010-05-21T20:08:04Z")
So, what are the Mexican laws? ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/3 "2010-05-21T20:17:49Z")
Well, to my understanding: Of the top of my head… The police can, and do, request identification/proof of legal residency/purpose of your visit, etc. Yes, they do racially profile anglos Yes you will be arrested and deported if not there legally No, you may not work there No, you may not purchase property ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/4 "2010-05-21T20:23:55Z")
Assuming that’s the federal police in Mexico, how does that differ significantly from the U.S., apart from not being able to buy real property? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/5 "2010-05-21T20:24:12Z")
I’ve been hearing this argument for probably a decade now. I think the first person I heard it from was that bastion of logic Rush Limbaugh. Simply put: just because little Johnny does it doesn’t mean it’s right for you to do it, son. Two wrongs don’t make a right. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/6 "2010-05-21T20:26:25Z")
First, they control us secretly when we want to go there. Now, they control our damn kids in public! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/7 "2010-05-21T20:32:23Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I’ve been hearing this argument for probably a decade now. I think the first person I heard it from was that bastion of logic Rush Limbaugh. Simply put: just because little Johnny does it doesn’t mean it’s right for you to do it, son. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Maybe so, but doesn’t that show that Calderon had some real _cojones_ when he called out Obama recently? And it’s not the anglos so much I think the OP had in mind, but those sneaking in from Central America, using Mexico as a waypoint on their way here?.. isn’t that a better analogy, going from a more 3rd world country to a less-3rd world country (ie, there’s motivation to sneak in)? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/8 "2010-05-21T20:33:01Z")
I would be willing to bet anyone sneaking illegally into mexico is only doing it in order to sneak illegally into the US. Their tougher immigration laws actually help us. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/9 "2010-05-21T20:36:09Z")
How are those laws working out for Mexico? Seems to me we should ask if they reduce illegal immigration before we throw our liberty under the bus. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/10 "2010-05-21T20:38:34Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I’ve been hearing this argument for probably a decade now. I think the first person I heard it from was that bastion of logic Rush Limbaugh. Simply put: just because little Johnny does it doesn’t mean it’s right for you to do it, son. Two wrongs don’t make a right. True enough. But dont fracking tell me to quit telling my wife to shut up when you are beating yours on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/11 "2010-05-21T20:39:11Z")
What does Mexico have to do with fucking _anything_? This is America. The problems with the Arizona law is how it affects American citizens, not how it affects Mexicans. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/12 "2010-05-21T20:52:49Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > True enough. > > But dont fracking tell me to quit telling my wife to shut up when you are beating yours on a regular basis. Then the thread should be a criticism of Calderon, not a call to stoop to his level-- even if it is intended ironically Edit: And to be fair, for all I know, Calderon might not support Mexico’s immigration policy. It predates his administration. If this board supported images, a “fail” picture would be sufficient response to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/13 "2010-05-21T23:10:28Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > Maybe so, but doesn’t that show that Calderon had some real _cojones_ when he called out Obama recently? It shows that Obama has no cojones for allowing it to happen. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/14 "2010-05-21T23:14:03Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It shows that Obama has no cojones for allowing it to happen. What should he have done, again? ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/15 "2010-05-21T23:20:53Z")
Actually, disregard my prior post: I don’t want to yank this thread off-topic. Apologies, all. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/16 "2010-05-21T23:29:29Z")
I’m not an expert on Mexican law but my understanding is that they have a problem with illegal immigrants coming in from Central America and they oppose this quite strongly. So while I’m not a Mexican, I think that’s a bad idea. For the same reasons I think those policies are a bad idea in the United States. And I throw in the typical liberal rant against Mexico’s hypocrisy on this issue. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/17 "2010-05-21T23:30:56Z")
And, ralph, did you seriosuly think you were going to get people to fall for this one? ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/18 "2010-05-23T00:28:10Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Well, to my understanding: > > Of the top of my head… > The police can, and do, request identification/proof of legal residency/purpose of your visit, etc. > Yes, they do racially profile anglos > Yes you will be arrested and deported if not there legally > No, you may not work there > No, you may not purchase property Can you cite actual Mexican law? Please don’t bother with something from an American source. something that actaully shows the law. Then please show how easy it is for foreigners to enter our country and immigrate if they so choose. And there are some restrictions on foreign ownership in certain areas. But there exist restrictions in your country on this. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/19 "2010-05-23T00:34:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And, ralph, did you seriosuly think you were going to get people to fall for this one? Would you deign to define “fall for this”? We have the president of a foreign country, addressing the US Congress..and he decides to criticize a law made by an elected legislature-well and good! But he (Calderon) ignore’s Mexico’s shameful abuse of illegal aliens-where does he get off? Instead of a standing ovation, the congress should have walked out.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296/20 "2010-05-23T02:15:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Would you deign to define “fall for this”? > We have the president of a foreign country, addressing the US Congress..and he decides to criticize a law made by an elected legislature-well and good! > But he (Calderon) ignore’s Mexico’s shameful abuse of illegal aliens-where does he get off? Instead of a standing ovation, the congress should have walked out I so deign. I figure you were trying a “gotcha”. Asking a question while withholding some information. Then when people gave the answer you expected, you’d pounce and reveal the information you withheld from the OP. In this particular case, you asked if people thought the United States should adopt Mexican laws as a model - without mentioning what those laws were. If you had just wanted to discuss the merits of Mexico’s immigration policies, you presumedly would have mentioned them. So I think this was an attempted gotcha. “Hey everbody, do you think the United States should adopt Mexico’s laws on immigration?” “Well, as liberals, we all automatically assume America is wrong all the time. No need to bother checking what Mexico’s laws actually are. So sure we agree that the United States should be more like Mexico.” “Ah hah. But Mexico has harsh laws against illegal immigration. So you must think the United States should have harsh laws against illegal immigration.” “Curses, your conservative logic has exposed our left wing hypocrisy.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296.md?page=2)