A Mexican Manual for Illegal Migrants Upsets Some in U.S.
Saturday, January 15, 2005 at 02:38AM
TheSpook
The Mexican government drew fire from American advocates of tighter
borders on Wednesday for publishing a pamphlet that instructs migrants
how to safely enter the United States illegally and live there without
being detected. Officials here say the small booklet, illustrated in
comic-book style, is not intended to encourage illegal immigration, but
to reduce the loss of life. Last year, more than 300 migrants died
while crossing rivers and deserts to reach the United States. The
guidebook also advises would-be migrants to avoid hiring professional
immigrant-smugglers and to refuse to carry packages for others. It also
instructs people never to lie to border officials, carry false
documents or resist arrest. But groups favoring stricter immigration
controls said the pamphlet amounted to a how-to manual for illegal
immigrants. The booklet gives advice on what clothes to wear when
fording a river and how to cross a desert without getting dehydrated.
It also counsels migrants to keep a low profile once in the United
States, telling them, for instance, to stay away from loud parties or
discos that might be raided by the police and to stay out of domestic
disputes, which might lead to an arrest. Finally, it lists what rights
migrants have if caught, among them safe transport home, medical care,
food and water.
Gernimo Gutirrez, Mexico's under secretary for North American
affairs, said the guide was written to dissuade people from making a
clandestine journey or at least to warn them of the perils and legal
risks should they decide to go. " Just
last year over 300 Mexicans died in their attempt to enter the United
States, the vast majority if not all of them in search of a job," Mr.
Gutirrez said. "The Mexican government obviously has an obligation to
take all actions possible in order to avoid the loss of life." He
added, "It is a natural and fair response to consider this as an
attempt to promote undocumented immigration, but that is absolutely not
the intent of the Mexican government." [more]