On March 5 this blog reported that a commission of prominent Americans and Mexicans has suggested that Mexico should establish its own border patrol after the United States adopts "comprehensive immigration reform". Once the reform is in place, they said, "Mexico should actively prevent unauthorized northward migration by ensuring that people who leave the country to enter the United States do so at designated crossing points and with the required documents."
The idea of Mexico controlling illegal immigration has long been controversial in Mexico. It received another bad review on Tuesday from former Mexican President Vicente Fox.
In an appearance in Baltimore as part of Stevenson University's 2012-2013 speakers series, Fox voiced his opinion in response to this question: "What can Mexico do to prevent undocumented workers from entering the United States?"
This was his response: "We are not the law here. Mexico cannot limit the freedom of its citizens to go anywhere they like. If we would do so, we would be like Cuba. They don't let their own people out. So that's not our job. Our job is to create the opportunities for them in Mexico."
