Certainly the opportunity that foreigners are given to set up shop in America is still in high demand for obvious reasons, but that is not a human right, and crossing into a sovereign nation without proper documentation is still a crime. If you want to be politically correct and intellectually dishonest—not to be crude and call you stupid—then it becomes virtually impossible to discuss the issue. But try crossing into Mexico without the proper documents, and let me know how that works out.

At times the legalese gets lost in translation, and the beauty of America is that everyone can protest and demonstrate to their heart’s content, even while displaying foreign flags which only aids the determination to make “the wall” taller. There’s an advertised air of unfairness as it pertains to America’s immigration laws, but to bring perspective to the issue, the LA Times published the article “Mexico’s treatment of immigrants slammed” on April 28, 2010.

The treatment of immigrants has become a divisive and embarrassing issue for Mexico. A country that has historically sent millions of its own people to the U.S. and elsewhere in search of work, Mexico has proved itself less than hospitable to Central Americans following the same calling.

Yet, we accept the fact that Mexico has laws, and we must be ready to comply with different rules if we choose to move south, but the same applies here. So when I hear any President of Mexico foaming at the mouth with indignation about the enforcement of America’s immigration laws, I get a sudden urge to smack somebody silly. The next time anyone states that U.S. Immigration law is unfair and callous, use the article “Mexico’s illegals laws tougher than Arizona’s,” published by The Washington Times on May 3, 2010, not to mention the fact that foreigners are subject to document verification, while excuses, especially on the basis of human rights, are not, I repeat, ARE NOT, a defense in Mexico. Furthermore, there’s no requirement of probable cause and suspicion of criminal behavior.

Under the Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison. Immigrants who are deported and attempt to re-enter can be imprisoned for 10 years. Visa violators can be sentenced to six-year terms. Mexicans who help illegal immigrants are considered criminals. The law also says Mexico can deport foreigners who are deemed detrimental to “economic or national interests,” violate Mexican law, are not “physically or mentally healthy” or lack the “necessary funds for their sustenance” and for their dependents.

Lack the necessary funds? Makes sense, especially if the Mexican government is concerned with welfare overload. Where have we heard that argument? Does the old proverb “have one’s cake and eat it too” apply here? The Washington Post’s article “Mexico Calls U.S. Border Fence Severe Threat to Environment,” published on November 16, 2007, provides yet another argument that only resonates with dumb and dumber.

Plans to extend the U.S. fence along the Mexican border are “medieval” and would severely damage the environment, threatening hundreds of plant species and animals, such as Mexican gray wolves, black bears and jaguars, according to a Mexican government report released Thursday.

The environment? Are they serious? Have you ever been to Mexico? Just two days ago “Mexico City emits new pollution alert for high ozone levels.” But let’s examine the definition of legal admission to the United States of America, as outlined in the “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996,” hardly an ancient law, and it doesn’t require an attorney to understand it:

SEC. 301. TREATING PERSONS PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION AS NOT ADMITTED.

(a) “ADMISSION” DEFINED.-Paragraph (13) of section 101(a) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended to read as follows:

(13)(A) The terms ‘admission’ and ‘admitted’ mean, with respect to an alien, the lawful entry of the alien into the United States after inspection and authorization by an immigration officer.

In short, unless an individual is inspected and authorized by an immigration officer, the status is “ILLEGAL,” and a 5th grader will get it. And what if a person is in the U.S.A illegally?

INA: ACT 275 – ENTRY OF ALIEN AT IMPROPER TIME OR PLACE; MISREPRESENTATION AND CONCEALMENT OF FACTS

Sec. 275. [8 U.S.C. 1325]

(a) Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

In America one faces a maximum of 2 years in jail for reentry, yet in Mexico the penalty is 10 years. Hardly equitable, is it? To summarize, entering the country, any country, in any fashion other than what the local law states, is a crime. So spare me the human rights argument, because if that is the case, plenty of people around the world qualify, and America could easily open its doors tomorrow to over 1 billion people, and the line would block the Rio Grande crossing for decades. Remember Darfur, the southern region of Sudan where almost 500,000 people were killed and 3 million displaced? Now there’s a human rights issue that could easily justify immigration to America, although if you search “Darfur Obama” on the web, the headlines provide plenty of questions on why Obama didn’t care.

One other item that should be addressed is America’s official language, which is not legally defined. I understand how certain programs provide help to new immigrants with language barriers and general social maneuvering, but to insist that government resources must be permanently directed to support a second language is insane, adds unnecessary governmental and social costs and is purely counter-productive. If the argument centers on the word “minority,” then there are far more minorities based on the various languages that are spoken in family rooms throughout the U.S.A. In addition, the development of cultural fiefdoms that operate in their own little world is self-defeating, because integration is the objective. If not, why bother coming to America when the purpose is to replicate the very place one came from? Stay home, then.

So why is it that the movement to overlook immigration laws and push the Spanish language is still so loud? Politics! Although we must admit that certain businesses benefit from cheaper labor, and there’s guilt across the political spectrum for not enforcing immigration laws, that is not the core driver, and in case one thinks that these “pro-immigration-at-any-cost” organizations are looking out for the poor immigrant, think again.

Then to add insult to injury, we have the legal issue surrounding voter ID laws, which is as silly as one can imagine, unless the very poor people that the laws will “disenfranchise,” as argued, do not require an ID to receive government benefits. Maybe that’s yet another problem! And the attempt at temporary amnesty, the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,” which imposes a $465 fee that has few exemptions, doesn’t seem to discourage the poor from finding the cash and from seeking the immigration ID, although they must travel to inconvenient locations. As usual, the argument doesn’t hold up, and the main objective is quite simple: Political base building.

Immigrants that cross the border tend to be poor and are viewed as the perfect human flow to keep the social funding scheme alive, as well as the power structure intact. It’s the old unsustainable and Venezuelan-inspired “I give you something, and you vote for me” implied contract, which will eventually fall apart. In addition, the expectation of success for this group of people is very low, and the language also plays into the game, for it perpetuates segregation and allows the crafting of targeted messages as needed that fly under the mainstream radar. Let me make it abundantly clear: These purported social and political movements that fight actively for immigration reform do not give a rat’s ass about the people. It’s all about the political elites, because without the people, they don’t have a cause, or a job and a source of revenue.

And let me assure that usage of an official language doesn’t interfere with one’s ethnicity or sense of identity. I ought to know. I dislike stereotypes, although they have an uncanny ability to expose the truth, but does the inability or refusal to learn English imply that Spanish speaking people are too dumb, especially when everyone else has adapted? Sleep on it! In every facet of our lives we define standards for the sake of efficiency, and the concept is embodied by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), an organization founded in 1918. ANSI is “comprised of Government agencies, Organizations, Companies, Academic and International bodies, and individuals, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) represents the interests of more than 125,000 companies and 3.5 million professionals,” according to its website. Yet we operate without a standard official language. Stupid is as stupid does!

Lastly, the question about immigration to America is always wrong. It is not “What is wrong with immigration?” and there isn’t a need for reform because the law is simple and explicit. The question is, as it pertains to our southern neighbor, “What’s wrong with Mexico?” while keeping in mind that one of the wealthiest persons in the world, Carlos Slim Helú, is Mexican, although the country as a whole is an economic failure, to say the least. Problems can only be solved when they are well defined. Until then, we will always drive in circles because we don’t have a clue as to what direction to take.

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