Mexico report: Ariz. 'xenophobia' hotbed
Prop. 200 effects studied during March trip
Chris Hawley
Republic Mexico City Bureau
Apr. 3, 2005 12:00 AM
MEXICO CITY - Calling Arizona a hotbed of "xenophobia and discrimination," a group of Mexican senators paints a grim picture of the Grand Canyon State in their report on a recent visit to investigate the effects of Proposition 200.
The seven-member Senate delegation spent three days in Arizona in early March, meeting with government and business leaders in an attempt to gauge the effect of the new law on Mexican migrants.
Their official report, written by Sen. Mariano González Zarur, warns of a "desolate panorama" of rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
"The anti-Mexican climate in the state of Arizona is undeniable," delegation member Miguel Sadot Sánchez Carreño said in a separate statement. "The anti-Mexican atmosphere that prevails there, far from diminishing, is being felt with ever-increasing force."
Proponents of Proposition 200 said the Mexican lawmakers were overreacting.
"Until they fix the problems in their own country, they shouldn't talk about ours," said Randy Pullen, chairman of the Yes on Proposition 200 campaign.
Arizona has been grabbing more headlines in Mexico recently because of the buildup of Border Patrol agents in the state, Proposition 200 and the Minuteman Project, a civilian border patrol that began on Friday.
Proposition 200, approved by voters in November, requires Arizonans to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and proof of legal residency when applying for certain state benefits. State employees who fail to report undocumented immigrants can be punished with jail time.
The report calls for the Mexican government to give more support to groups fighting Proposition 200 in court, and to lobby against similar measures in other states.
It calls for Mexico to keep pressuring the United States to reform its immigration laws and suggests a campaign to improve the image of migrants among Americans.
It also recommended further visits by lawmakers, saying they "will permit us to continue giving the support that our compatriots in the United States so need, especially the most destitute, who are the undocumented, in light of the xenophobia and discrimination they encounter in that country, as highlighted by the state of Arizona."
The report also gives a glimpse of the politics behind the March 10-12 visit, including a decision not to request a meeting with Gov. Janet Napolitano.
"The consul made it very clear that the political circumstances of Arizona, and especially of the governor, are currently difficult in light of the elections next year," the report said.
"The Mexican legislators judged it pertinent not to ask for an appointment with her, because her political position should be handled with care."
It noted that Napolitano opposed Proposition 200 and called her "a true ally in the fight in favor of our migrants."
The senators also met with U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton and with state Attorney General Terry Goddard. The report made no mention of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who canceled a meeting with the senators at the last minute after learning they wanted to talk about Proposition 200.
The report noted that Proposition 200 affects only a small number of programs, including a vision-care program and another that helps people pay their utility bills.
"What is really dangerous is that similar initiatives are beginning to be seen in other states like Arkansas, Ohio, Nevada, Georgia and Colorado," it said.
Supporters of such measures say that they are a natural reaction to illegal immigration, and that the Mexican government should concentrate more on creating jobs in Mexico to stem the flow.
"They're going to see more of these initiatives . . . It's pretty much unstoppable," said Kathy McKee, the founder of Protect Arizona Now. The group is now encouraging legislation in other states under the name Protect America Now.
Migrants interviewed by the senators in Phoenix also criticized Mexico for failing to create jobs, the report said.
"The day workers have a very negative opinion of politics in Mexico, in the sense that there are no job opportunities in their country," it said.
Reach the reporter at chris.hawley@arizonarepublic.com.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0403mex-senators03.html#
Prop. 200 effects studied during March trip
Chris Hawley
Republic Mexico City Bureau
Apr. 3, 2005 12:00 AM
MEXICO CITY - Calling Arizona a hotbed of "xenophobia and discrimination," a group of Mexican senators paints a grim picture of the Grand Canyon State in their report on a recent visit to investigate the effects of Proposition 200.
The seven-member Senate delegation spent three days in Arizona in early March, meeting with government and business leaders in an attempt to gauge the effect of the new law on Mexican migrants.
Their official report, written by Sen. Mariano González Zarur, warns of a "desolate panorama" of rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
"The anti-Mexican climate in the state of Arizona is undeniable," delegation member Miguel Sadot Sánchez Carreño said in a separate statement. "The anti-Mexican atmosphere that prevails there, far from diminishing, is being felt with ever-increasing force."
Proponents of Proposition 200 said the Mexican lawmakers were overreacting.
"Until they fix the problems in their own country, they shouldn't talk about ours," said Randy Pullen, chairman of the Yes on Proposition 200 campaign.
Arizona has been grabbing more headlines in Mexico recently because of the buildup of Border Patrol agents in the state, Proposition 200 and the Minuteman Project, a civilian border patrol that began on Friday.
Proposition 200, approved by voters in November, requires Arizonans to show proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and proof of legal residency when applying for certain state benefits. State employees who fail to report undocumented immigrants can be punished with jail time.
The report calls for the Mexican government to give more support to groups fighting Proposition 200 in court, and to lobby against similar measures in other states.
It calls for Mexico to keep pressuring the United States to reform its immigration laws and suggests a campaign to improve the image of migrants among Americans.
It also recommended further visits by lawmakers, saying they "will permit us to continue giving the support that our compatriots in the United States so need, especially the most destitute, who are the undocumented, in light of the xenophobia and discrimination they encounter in that country, as highlighted by the state of Arizona."
The report also gives a glimpse of the politics behind the March 10-12 visit, including a decision not to request a meeting with Gov. Janet Napolitano.
"The consul made it very clear that the political circumstances of Arizona, and especially of the governor, are currently difficult in light of the elections next year," the report said.
"The Mexican legislators judged it pertinent not to ask for an appointment with her, because her political position should be handled with care."
It noted that Napolitano opposed Proposition 200 and called her "a true ally in the fight in favor of our migrants."
The senators also met with U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton and with state Attorney General Terry Goddard. The report made no mention of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who canceled a meeting with the senators at the last minute after learning they wanted to talk about Proposition 200.
The report noted that Proposition 200 affects only a small number of programs, including a vision-care program and another that helps people pay their utility bills.
"What is really dangerous is that similar initiatives are beginning to be seen in other states like Arkansas, Ohio, Nevada, Georgia and Colorado," it said.
Supporters of such measures say that they are a natural reaction to illegal immigration, and that the Mexican government should concentrate more on creating jobs in Mexico to stem the flow.
"They're going to see more of these initiatives . . . It's pretty much unstoppable," said Kathy McKee, the founder of Protect Arizona Now. The group is now encouraging legislation in other states under the name Protect America Now.
Migrants interviewed by the senators in Phoenix also criticized Mexico for failing to create jobs, the report said.
"The day workers have a very negative opinion of politics in Mexico, in the sense that there are no job opportunities in their country," it said.
Reach the reporter at chris.hawley@arizonarepublic.com.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0403mex-senators03.html#