Monday, August 2, 2010
Mexico Condemns Arizona Law, Commends Court Ruling
Foreign Affairs Secretariat
July 29 – The Foreign Affairs
Secretariat (SRE) expressed the Mexican government's approval of the decision by the Federal District Court in Arizona to
provisionally suspend passage of certain sections of the SB1070 Law. This is a first step in the right direction.
The provisional suspension will
prevent police from the state of Arizona from using the SB1070 Law to investigate, on the basis of reasonable doubt, a person's
migratory condition when he is arrested; detaining an individual suspected of being undocumented without an arrest warrant
or requiring him to carry documentation identifying him as an immigrant and stop state authorities from criminalizing undocumented
work. These are the sections of the law that have been suspended following today's decision.
The Mexican government has implemented
and will continue strengthening actions to prevent violations of migrants' rights and provide them with consular protection
in the event that Mexicans' rights are violated.
In its five consulates in Arizona,
the Mexican government has established and reinforced various rapid response mechanisms to ensure that effective legal action
is provided in the specific cases where Mexicans’ rights are violated.
In this respect, it has expanded
and we will continue reinforcing the Network of Lawyers in the Program of Legal Assistance through Legal Consultancy (PALE)
as well as through the Network of Legal Consultants. We will also increase consular presence in the Arizona detention centers
and permanent communication with the federal authorities to find out about any incident involving a Mexican.
[We] have instructed the Director
General of Protection of Mexicans Abroad to travel to Phoenix to supervise these measures of consular protection implemented
by the Foreign Affairs Secretariat ever since the SB1070 Law was passed.
With the support of organizations
in civil society active in the defense of human rights, we will identify and register possible cases of violations of Mexican
nationals' rights. We will inform the migrant community of the effects of the SB1070 law through a greater number of community
and educational forums. We will continue reinforcing personalized attention 24 hours a day through the call center set up
in Arizona to provide orientation for those affected (1-877-63CONSUL).
We will intensify the training
of consular personnel regarding the scope of the SB1070 law and increase the distribution of materials for preventive protection,
through leaflets and cards that promote the knowledge of the basic rights of our fellow countrymen.
[We] have also instructed the
five Mexican consulates in Arizona to continue visiting our communities through mobile consulates which, in addition to their
usual office hours, will continue working on Saturdays until further notice to guarantee consular service.
The Mexican government hails
the determination shown by the US government and the actions of civil organizations that filed demands against the SB1070
Law.
The Mexican government also thanks
the governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru which
joined the "Friend of the Court" motion submitted by Mexico.
In keeping with its firm
commitment to the protection of the rights of Mexicans abroad, regardless of their migratory status, the Mexican Government
will continue following up the legal process derived from the decision of the District Court and higher courts until the SB1070
is declared unconstitutional.
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Press Release: Head Office
of Media and Communication, Foreign Affairs Secretariat, July 29, 2010, Mexico, D.F.; translation Foreign Affairs Secretariat
