Mexican manipulations

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Most Americans see first-hand the disastrous impact of illegal immigration on our wallets, wages and culture. The annual entry of more than 1 million illegal aliens from around the world, better than 30 percent of them Mexicans sneaking across our southern border, obviously undercut homeland-security efforts. Yet more Americans must understand that Mexico's government, far from being a friend, is actively working to subvert our country's laws and political institutions.

Not since the heyday of expansionist Soviet communism has there been such an organized effort to undermine our nation.

If our borders are not controlled and immigration law enforced, will we truly be a "United States" in another 10 years or a completely balkanized, multicultural society with English downgraded as the common tongue? The Mexican government promotes reconquista in the Southwest. Isn't it obvious in many areas that Mexicans are pushing out Americans, refusing to speak English and establishing de facto Mexican enclaves? A growing number of Mexicans despise their northern neighbor. American soccer fans, to cite just one example, have repeatedly witnessed the outrageous behavior of Mexican crowds during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner," including cheers of "Osama, Osama"-- a reference to the murder of 3,000 Americans on September 11.

The Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (Institute of Mexicans Abroad) has no respect for the internal affairs of our country. The institute was created by decree of Mexican President Vicente Fox and reports to a shadowy clique within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its vast computer database is used to deploy illegal and legal Mexicans to lobby state legislatures, city councils and county commissions to recognize worthless matricula consular "identification" cards, support granting driver's licenses to illegals, promote multilingualism at the expense of English and help Mexicans and their children sponge off U.S. services ranging from schools to medical care.

California Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy remembers the floor debate over a measure granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Referring to the former name of the territory ceded to the United States, by Mexico in 1848, Mr. Mountjoy warned, "This bill paves the road to Aztlan." "Everyone in the gallery stood up and applauded," Mr. Mountjoy recalls.

In Michigan, a Mexican consul repeatedly traveled to the city of Holland to urge its city council to support police and bank recognition of consulate-issued matricula consular cards -- often with "what can only be described as a mob in tow," according to author Matt Hayes. Holland finally demurred because the consul was so disruptive.

Former Mexican consul Teodoro Maus, now a legal resident, is a leading agitator in Georgia for granting services to any immigrant "regardless of status." Such agitation, often fostered from Mexico's 49 consulates, is repeated in every other state.

In 2006, amid reports of border incursions by either Mexican troops or rogue off-duty soldiers, the Mexican government announced that its military forces were ordered not to go within three kilometers of the border. Of course, that begs the big question: Who's policing the border on the Mexican side? Don't count on the local police departments of border towns, because even Mexican officials admit they are riddled with corruption.

Former Mexican Interior Secretary Santiago Creel actually said his country would never help to secure the southern border. "We are not going to do that," Mr. Creel told Jerry Kammer of the Copley News Service. Mr. Creel claimed Mexico's constitution provides for "complete freedom of movement" for Mexicans inside Mexico. "We can't put up a checkpoint or a customs station inside our territory," Mr. Creel said.

A Zogby International poll in 2003 found 57 percent of Mexicans believe they have the right to enter the United States without permission. And 58 percent said the southwestern states properly belong to Mexico. In light of such sentiments, no wonder the Mexican government printed and openly distributed a comic book-style "guide" to "migrants" instructing them where to cross the northern border, melt into U.S. society and how to take advantage of medical, educational and other services.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, Georgia Republican, recently wrote a stinging letter to Mexico's ambassador to the United States "I would remind you," the lawmaker said in part, "that our border security plan is a direct result of the Mexican government's failure to commit to securing its side of the border, and is also a result of the Mexican government's failure to address inadequacies in its own domestic and border security policies." Indeed, the governors of Arizona and New Mexico declared states of emergency in their border counties because of border lawlessness.

Mexico has an obligation to respect our laws, encourage its citizens to do the same and commit to securing its side of the border. Since it has not done so, isn't it time to downgrade diplomatic relations by kicking Mexico's ambassador out of the United States and recalling ours? It would be a timely wake-up call to protest that country's insolent policies, which are so damaging to our nation and its border security.

Phil Kent is president of the American Research Foundation and an Atlanta-based author.