Mexican Ambassador Rips Immigration Law Changes

Speaking to members of the oldest Latino rights organization in the nation Wednesday, Mexican Ambassador Jesus Silva Herzog decried recent changes in U.S. immigration and welfare laws as part of a troubling and “unseemly” backlash against immigrants.

In a talk laced with humor, as well as some biting critiques of U.S. policies, Silva Herzog repeated his government’s long-standing position that illegal immigration is a social problem that can’t be solved by law enforcement alone. “Additional walls, law enforcement personnel or even military units will not only fail to stem the flow, they can actually damage the constructive climate that now exists,” he said.

“It is particularly surprising that at a time of almost unprecedented success in the United States economy . . . the anti-immigration voices have once again taken the high ground,” he said. “Make no mistake about it, this is racism and xenophobia, and it has a negative impact on every person of Hispanic origin living in this country, regardless of their migratory status.”

Silva Herzog spoke during the national convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which has drawn several thousand and runs through Saturday.

LULAC President Belen Robles said the backlash against immigrants was one of several issues she raised during a meeting Monday with President Clinton in Los Angeles. She said Clinton invited LULAC attorney Ray Velarde to sit on a committee that will review last year’s immigration reform law and propose modifications, including the possibility of restoring benefits to legal immigrants. The new law did away with food stamps and supplemental security income payments to them.

Silva Herzog pointed out that 600,000 U.S. natives live in Mexico. “And I have to add that most of them are illegal,” he said to laughter from the audience. “But we are more flexible.” He did not elaborate.

He said 17 million people of Mexican descent live in the United States, including 6.3 million born in Mexico. They send more than $4.5 billion to families in Mexico every year, providing an important boost to the Mexican economy.

“It is a community that also has enriched America,” he said, “with its intrinsic values of family, community and solidarity.”