Mexico issues travel warning for Arizona

Mexico’s government no longer believes its citizens are safe in the state of Arizona:  The Mexican government Tuesday took the unusual step of issuing a travel alert urging extreme caution by Mexicans working, studying or otherwise spending time in Arizona. The warning came in response to that state’s tough new immigration measure, which is to ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.
John Moore/Getty Images
John Moore/Getty Images
John Moore/Getty Images

Mexico's government no longer believes its citizens are safe in the state of Arizona: 

Mexico’s government no longer believes its citizens are safe in the state of Arizona: 

The Mexican government Tuesday took the unusual step of issuing a travel alert urging extreme caution by Mexicans working, studying or otherwise spending time in Arizona. The warning came in response to that state’s tough new immigration measure, which is to go into effect this summer, requiring people in Arizona to carry proof of their legal right to be in the United States and requiring police to check for it.[…]

"As was clear during the [Arizona] legislative process, there is a negative political environment for migrant communities and for all Mexican visitors," the alert said, posted in Spanish and English on the ministry’s website.

Although details on how the law will be enforced remain unclear, the alert said, "it must be assumed that every Mexican citizen may be harassed and questioned without further cause at any time."

Obviously addressing the probelm of illegal immigration is going to require taking action on both sides of the border, and thanks to Arizona, Mexico now seems a lot less likely to cooperate in efforts to find an effective remedy. 

 

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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