Tancredo Blasts Foreign Ministers’ Immigration Demands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) blasted demands from the foreign ministers of Mexico and some Central American countries that the U.S. pass a blanket amnesty for illegal aliens and open up its borders to millions of additional immigrants.

Yesterday, the foreign ministers of Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize and Panama met in Mexico City to respond to the immigration reform bill which passed the House of Representatives in December. The bill, H.R. 4437, would secure our borders and crack down on illegal immigration by requiring employers to verify the legal status of their employees, mandating that federal and local law enforcement cooperate on immigration matters, and constructing a security fence along our southern border.

“Once again, these countries have quit bluffing and were forced to show their hands. If Americans didn’t know before, they know now: countries from which illegal aliens come are lobbying to keep our border security weak,” said Tancredo. “Remittances that flow from Mexicans working in the U.S. amount to more than $16 billion per year — that’s Mexico’s second largest foreign source of income behind oil. They have a direct economic interest in undermining the security of the United States, so when Congress tries to get tough, Mexico and Central America start complaining.”

Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said after yesterday’s meeting, “There has to be an integrated reform that includes a temporary worker program, but also the regularization of those people who are already living in receptor countries.” Previously, Derbez had called the immigration reform bill “stupid and underhanded.”

“I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: foreign powers must stay out of our domestic politics,” said Tancredo. “After a decade of neglect, Congress may now be on the cusp of bringing order to our immigration anarchy. If we prevail, America will be safer and our economy will be stronger for all Americans. Foreign powers who try to undermine Congress’ work will permanently harm their relationship with the United States.”