I TRIED Counting to Ten...

...but it was an exercise in futility, because I had just read the following here. My comments, as always, are in red.

Diplomats from Mexico and Central America on Monday demanded guest worker programs and the legalization of undocumented migrants in the United States, while criticizing a U.S. proposal for tougher border enforcement. This is a joke, right? Foreign diplomats demanding that America not only continue with lax border enforcement, but also that we adopt a forgive, forget, and hey-since-you're-already-here-albeit-illegally-why-don't-you-just-go-ahead-and-stay policy on illegal immigration?

Meeting in Mexico's capital, the regional officials pledged to do more to fight migrant trafficking, but indirectly condemned a U.S. bill that would make illegal entry a felony and extend border walls. What, exactly, are we supposed to do when you are allowing/encouraging/aiding & abetting your people to enter and work in our country illegally?

"Migrants, regardless of their migratory status, should not be treated like criminals," they said. Migratory status? I've got a "migratory status" for you: ILLEGAL ALIEN. Call me crazy, but I'm of the opinion that criminals should be treated like -- well -- CRIMINALS.

The countries represented at the meeting _ including Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize and Panama _ created a working group to design a regional policy to avoid migrant abuse and to follow the course of the legislation.

"There has to be an integrated reform that includes a temporary worker program, but also the regularization of those people who are already living in receptor countries," Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said. No, actually there doesn't have to be a temporary worker program, and there doesn't have to be "regularization" (i.e., amnesty) for those who are already living in the receptor (read: bending over and taking it in the ass) country. And, seeing as you are the Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary, where in the world did you get the idea that you get a say in American policy or law anyway?

Derbez has called the measure -- which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month but still must go before the Senate -- "stupid and underhanded," but was somewhat more restrained on Monday, saying "it's not the Mexican government's position to tell the U.S. Senate what to do." Hello? Weren't you just quoted in the paragraph above as telling the U.S. Senate what to do? It begins with the phrase "There has to be..." and it sounds an awful lot like "telling" to me.

The U.S. proposal has caused widespread resentment in Mexico, where some have accused President Vicente Fox's administration of not being assertive enough in opposing it. Fox has called the bill shameful. Please raise your hand if you find yourself with one tiny, miniscule sliver of give-a-damn that a U.S. proposal to enforce U.S. laws and protect U.S. citizens has "caused widespread resentment in Mexico." I'll give you shameful: shameful is foisting your citizens off on another country because you have screwed your own up so badly, then whining and complaining when the country finally won't take it any more.

Mexicans working in the United States are a huge source of revenue for Mexico, sending home more than $16 billion in remittances in 2004, Mexico's second largest source of foreign currency after oil exports according to the country's central bank. A common argument from the illegal immigration lovers is that the illegals are contributing to our economy. I question the size and value of that contribution when $16 billion went back to Mexico the year before last. $16 billion.

Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, defended the administration's record on Monday, telling reporters that migration has declined in recent years, though official figures show it remains at historically high levels. Hmmmm. Who to believe? Official figures, or the unsubstantiated words of the spokesman for Vicente "Don't-Bother-Me-I'm-Busy-Exporting-Illegals" Fox? Tough one.

Aguilar also said migrants "don't emigrate because they lack work, but rather for a series of other reasons, cultural reasons or better living conditions." No crap. We are a nation blessed with better living conditions than most. I welcome anyone who comes and remains here legally. For anyone else, may I recommend choosing a different "receptor country" and getting the hell out of this one?

Illegal Immigration
Border Security
America
Mexico