Chris Hawley
Republic Mexico City Bureau
Nov. 15, 2007 12:00 AM (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1115driverslicenses1115.html)

MEXICO CITY - The question of whether to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants ignited a national debate in the United States. But in Mexico, the largest source of U.S. immigrants, there's no question: Here, you must be a legal resident to get a driver's license.

All of Mexico's 31 states, along with Mexico City, require foreigners to present a valid visa if they want a driver's license, according to a survey of states by The Arizona Republic.

I find it interesting how the Mexican government has a way of claiming that the US treats it expats unfairly, and yet they routinely deport thousands of Central American immigrants on top of the fact that they [quite intelligently] deny illegals the right to drive as well.

~String

Many so called illegals in the US came here on a visa. Besides, hardly anyone goes to Mexico illegally, so having lots of people driving around that shouldn't be isn't a problem.

I find it interesting how the Mexican government has a way of claiming that the US treats it expats unfairly, and yet they routinely deport thousands of Central American immigrants on top of the fact that they [quite intelligently] deny illegals the right to drive as well.

~String

Oh it gets better.

Foreigners are admitted into Mexico "according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress."

Immigration officials must "ensure" that "immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance" and for their dependents.

Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets "the equilibrium of the national demographics," when foreigners are deemed detrimental to "economic or national interests," when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken Mexican laws, and when "they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy."


The Secretary of Governance may "suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest."

Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country:

Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants.

A National Population Registry keeps track of "every single individual who comprises the population of the country," and verifies each individual's identity.

A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number.
Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be Imprisoned. Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned.

Foreigners who sign government documents "with a signature that is false or different is subject to fine and imprisonment.

Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as Felons. Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished.

Foreigners who are deported from Mexico and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison . Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in Mexico -- such as working with out a permit -- can also be imprisoned.

http://www.newswithviews.com/Slagle/john18.htm

Unless you bribe the right person.

Many so called illegals in the US came here on a visa. Besides, hardly anyone goes to Mexico illegally, so having lots of people driving around that shouldn't be isn't a problem.

Actually, illegal immigration for Mexico is a huge problem, it's just that they deal with it far more intelligently than we do in the USA. They simply enforce the laws they have strictly and then ship the people off to prison (where noone wants to go) and then deports them back to whereever they came from.

~String

Unless you bribe the right person.

Like that's not true anywhere.

~String

:roflmao:Unless you bribe the right person.

:roflmao:

Actually, illegal immigration for Mexico is a huge problem, it's just that they deal with it far more intelligently than we do in the USA. They simply enforce the laws they have strictly and then ship the people off to prison (where noone wants to go) and then deports them back to whereever they came from.

~String

They also secure their southern border with the military, an option barely on the table in the US.

Unless you bribe the right person.

That's the truth...I bribed a Mexican police officer in Reyanosa. A friend of mine and I were walking out of a club, and he decided to take a sniff of coke. A Mexican cop saw him, and was going to take him to jail, so I pulled out a Franklin ($100 bill), and asked him if we could just "pay the fine". He took it and left us alone. :)

Besides, hardly anyone goes to Mexico illegally, so having lots of people driving around that shouldn't be isn't a problem.

It's not that people don't go to Mexico illegally, it's that they don't *stay* there. It's a pit-stop on the way to the United States.

I find it interesting how the Mexican government has a way of claiming that the US treats it expats unfairly, and yet they routinely deport thousands of Central American immigrants on top of the fact that they [quite intelligently] deny illegals the right to drive as well.

~String

Egad!

That's the truth...I bribed a Mexican police officer in Reyanosa. A friend of mine and I were walking out of a club, and he decided to take a sniff of coke. A Mexican cop saw him, and was going to take him to jail, so I pulled out a Franklin ($100 bill), and asked him if we could just "pay the fine". He took it and left us alone. :)

Huh. Drugs, bribes and Mexican police. Mac's life is officially three bullets short of a Hunter S. Thompson short story.

Huh. Drugs, bribes and Mexican police. Mac's life is officially three bullets short of a Hunter S. Thompson short story.

I hope Johnny Depp plays me in the movie version. Those were some wild days...I lived in McAllen, at the bottom tip of Texas, and used to drive garbage bags full of weed across the border. Damn...I had some serious balls back then.