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Note to President Calderón: Stick to Security

Mexican President Felipe Calderón travels to Washington this week to be feted at the Obama administration’s second state dinner and also to become the 106th foreign leader to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Those high honors rightly reflect the importance of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship and how closely are tied our respective ...

By José R. Cárdenas

May 18, 2010, 10:50 PM

Mexican President Felipe Calderón travels to Washington this week to be feted at the Obama administration's second state dinner and also to become the 106th foreign leader to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Those high honors rightly reflect the importance of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship and how closely are tied our respective national interests.

Mexican President Felipe Calderón travels to Washington this week to be feted at the Obama administration’s second state dinner and also to become the 106th foreign leader to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Those high honors rightly reflect the importance of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship and how closely are tied our respective national interests.

But that being said, tending to those relations today takes on an added urgency in the midst of President Calderón’s unprecedented decision to employ the full power of the state to combat the brutal drug cartels that threaten Mexico’s sovereignty and fuel the drug violence on the border and into American inner cities.

Unfortunately, focus on that strategic bilateral goal has been blurred by the controversy surrounding Arizona’s recent enactment of a law trying to assert some control over its illegal immigrant population.

The law has generated widespread negative reaction in Mexico and numerous voices there have loaded immense pressure onto Calderón’s shoulders to "speak out" about the law during his trip to Washington.

As difficult as it may be, Calderón would be wise to avoid that minefield.

First, as warranted as it may seem to some, it is difficult to see what good can come from the image of a foreign leader weighing in on such a contentious and emotional domestic debate in the United States. Rather than protecting illegal immigrants, chances are it will embolden more those who seek even harsher federal action.

Secondly, as has been documented by Amnesty International, Mexico has its own challenges dealing with illegal immigrants who traverse its territory on their way to El Norte. Cries of hypocrisy will be quick in coming.

Lastly, President Calderón would be exposing himself to hard questions as to why Mexico itself, with its rich natural resources, vast human capital, and geographic position next to the world’s biggest market, has been unable to create the socio-economic conditions — namely, jobs and opportunity — that would allow many of its citizens to not have to break up their families to pursue their dreams of better lives abroad.

As frustrating as it may be to all concerned, the reality is that immigration reform will only take place on a calendar determined by Washington. And Calderón needs to heed that reality. Of course, he and President Obama can choreograph a situation where the latter is the one who raises and speaks to the issue of immigration or the Arizona law.

But we shouldn’t otherwise be distracted by the fact that Mexico is today locked in an existential struggle to reclaim its country from the grip of the drug cartels, cartels enriched and empowered by the insatiable U.S. demand for illicit narcotics. When that grip is broken, only then can Mexico begin creating strong institutions free of drug corruption, reduce the lure of trafficking by creating jobs, and begin building a better future for its citizens.

José R. Cárdenas was acting assistant administrator for Latin America at the U.S. Agency for International Development in the George W. Bush administration.

Tag: Security