On Mexico's borders

Yesterday, in a meeting with USAA reps, McCain weighed in on the issue of the stalled construction of a wall along the US-Mexican border:

"It seems to me that borders are borders and there should be agreements between the landowners and the federal government (for the fencing). At the same time, there has to be these barriers to illegal immigrants coming across the border," he said.

Interestingly, amongst all remaining candidates, both Democratic and Republican, talk about the border wall centers around the potential impact it might have on US border communities. It didn't come up at all last night, but in Thursday's debate in Austin, Obama and Hillary both defended the use of electric fencing--in place of concrete walls--in hopes of minimizing the burden the wall places on local land owners. Bizarrely, that was the extent of their border policy discussion: the need for more 'smart' fencing. No mention whatsoever of the general detriment the erection of a physical barrier would be to the relatively cordial relations that we now tentatively enjoy with our Southern neighbor.

Tuesday, José Luis Soberanes, director of Mexico's National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH), denounced Mexico's employment* of the same border tactics supported by McCain--and more subtly by Obama and Hillary. Soberanes, speaking in front of the Mexican Supreme Court, pledged that the CNDH would focus its work in the upcoming months on reorienting the national conscience toward the human rights abuses committed daily along the Mexico-Guatemala border. Without going into much detail, he demanded that the Mexican border police--who, he added, are just as bad or worse than their American counterparts--stationed along Mexico's southernmost Suchiate River, must be held accountable for their reprehensible treatment of Central American immigrants.

Certainly, he has a thing or two to teach the US. However, before he makes plans for any whirlwind "50 states in five days" speaking tour, he has to see about getting Mexican lawmakers up to speed on what human rights violations look like.

--An * indicates the site is in Spanish. With some national, and most local stories, Spanish sources are all I can find. Sorry English speakers.