Mexico Issues Travel Warning to Citizens

The Mexican government warned its citizens Tuesday to use extreme caution if visiting Arizona because of a tough new law that requires all immigrants and visitors to carry U.S.-issued documents or risk arrest. The controversial new law signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has faced stiff opposition from many groups and individuals, including various Hispanic American rights groups, the NAACP, and even President Barack Obama. Arizona’s law — slated to take effect in late July or early August — makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and allows police to question anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant. Lawmakers said the legislation, which has sparked huge protests and litigation, was needed because the Obama administration is failing to enforce existing federal laws.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry issued a travel alert for Arizona after the law was signed, warning that its passage shows “an adverse political atmosphere for migrant communities and for all Mexican visitors.”The alert said that once the law takes effect, foreigners can be questioned at any moment and detained if they fail to carry immigration documents. And it warns that the law will also make it illegal to hire or be hired from a vehicle stopped on the street. People from both parties, including Republicans like Tom Tancredo, a vocal opponent of illegal immigration and Florida senatorial candidate Mario Rubio have criticized the law for containing elements of a police state and encouraging racial profiling. There are signs that the law will face conflicts with federal officials, since some opponents of the law are citing federal regulations as contrary to states’ abilities to regulate immigration.