Mexico issues travel alert

Mexico issues travel alert
for citizens visiting Arizona


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services


The Mexican government continues to react to the U.S. state of Arizona's new immigration law, issuing a travel alert and canceling an annual meeting with the state's government.

Mexico's ministry of foreign affairs issued a travel warning Tuesday for Mexicans going to or residing in Arizona. In a statement, the ministry urges Mexicans to "act with prudence and with respect to the local legal framework."

The statement says that once the law takes effect, every Mexican citizen may be harassed and questioned without further cause at any time. The new law requires immigrants in Arizona to carry registration documents with them at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to believe they are illegal immigrants.

Monday, the government of the Mexican state of Sonora announced it has canceled the annual Sonora-Arizona Commission meeting scheduled for June to protest the new law.

Monday, Mexican President Felipe Calderon condemned the new immigration law, saying it opens the door to intolerance, hate and discrimination.

Opponents say the law will result in racial profiling in which police target people because of their race or ethnic background. Supporters say the measure will help combat a wave of crime blamed on illegal immigrants.


Our reader's opinion

Arizona immigration law
may be a wakeup call

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I took pleasure in seeing a rational response to the situation in Arizona.

Unfortunately it had to come from a Costa Rican newspaper. Political correctness has taken over in a big way here in the U.S. The Arizona law may not be perfect, but it is a start. The people of Arizona have been characterized as xenophobes, racists and worse. Not fair for a people who want to keep their streets safe and life secure.

My son's friend lived there for a while, and most people have to keep their cars behind gates in their driveways lest they get stolen only to be driven over the border into Mexico.

One of the things about Costa Rica which I find admirable: At the airport you are better screened when taking a flight to the U.S. than when you leave it. I've seen people pulled off the line as you are about ready to enter the gangway to board the plane. They were pulled off because they looked shady, were unkempt or were traveling alone. They were profiled. It was done in a country that has little resources to spare, but one that knows tourism is important and takes the extra step to insure safety.

We were screened no less than three times ourselves before boarding, and we are a family of four.

The U.S. has a lot to learn about protecting our borders. Maybe this move by Arizona will wake those in Washington up.

Al Loria
New York