OAS Criticizes Arizona Immigration Enforcement Measure; Press Has Ignored Mexico's Harsher Laws for Years

A short Associated Press item tonight notes that the Organization for American States is not happy with the state of Arizona for passing an immigration law-enforcement measure:

I don't expect AP to expand on OAS's statement any time soon, because in the process of doing so they might feel compelled to look at how some of the countries criticizing Arizona handle their own illegal immigrants.

One of the most under-reported stories of the past couple of decades is the hypocrisy of Mexico's and many other OAS countries' "anger" at any and every attempt by the U.S. government or its states to enforce laws that are nowhere near as harsh as their own.

Michelle Malkin's most recent syndicated column focuses on Mexico harsh immigration regime. She points out a number of pretty amazing items, given how Mexico would have us treat our illegals (bolds are mine):

The Mexican government will bar foreigners if they upset “the equilibrium of the national demographics.” How’s that for racial and ethnic profiling?

If outsiders do not enhance the country’s “economic or national interests” or are “not found to be physically or mentally healthy,” they are not welcome. Neither are those who show “contempt against national sovereignty or security.” They must not be economic burdens on society and must have clean criminal histories. Those seeking to obtain Mexican citizenship must show a birth certificate, provide a bank statement proving economic independence, pass an exam and prove they can provide their own health care.

Illegal entry into the country is equivalent to a felony punishable by two years’ imprisonment. Document fraud is subject to fine and imprisonment; so is alien marriage fraud. Evading deportation is a serious crime; illegal re-entry after deportation is punishable by ten years’ imprisonment.

… Law enforcement officials at all levels — by national mandate — must cooperate to enforce immigration laws, including illegal alien arrests and deportations. The Mexican military is also required to assist in immigration enforcement operations. Native-born Mexicans are empowered to make citizens’ arrests of illegal aliens and turn them in to authorities.

… Noncitizens cannot “in any way participate in the political affairs of the country.”

… As for abuse, the Mexican government is notorious for its abuse of Central American illegal aliens who attempt to violate Mexico’s southern border. The Red Cross has protested rampant Mexican police corruption, intimidation and bribery schemes targeting illegal aliens there for years.

As is the case with anything Malkin writes, read the whole thing.

As might be expected, there's a serious inaccuracy in the above AP report, which gives the impression that law enforcement officials can arbitrarily "question people" at random about their citizenship status. As Kris Kobach pointed out in today's Washington Times (HT Mark Levin's radio show):

... the Arizona law actually makes racial profiling less likely. But that doesn't fit the story the left would like to tell.

... The terms of the act make clear that such profiling cannot occur. Section 2 provides that a law enforcement official "may not solely consider race, color, or national origin" in making any stops or determining an alien's immigration status. In addition, all of the normal Fourth Amendment protections against racial profiling still apply.

... The law only kicks in when a police officer already has made a "lawful contact" with a person, such as stopping him for breaking another law. The most likely contact is during the issuance of a speeding ticket. The law does not require the officer to begin questioning a person about his immigration status or to do anything the officer would not otherwise do.

Only after a stop is made, and subsequently the officer develops reasonable suspicion on his own that an immigration law has been violated, is any obligation imposed.

Many Americans would see things quite differently if they really understood what Mexico does to enforce its immigration laws, while brazenly using its consulate system here in the U.S. to defend its citizens who are breaking the law when they are in this country illegally -- which is why the largely pro-illegal, anti-sovereignty establishment press will almost never touch the story.

Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.