Mexico issues travel alert for Arizona

By Barbara Grijalva - email

Tucson, AZ (KOLD) - More fallout today from Arizona's new immigration law which makes it a state crime to be in Arizona illegally.

It will give local law enforcement the authority to check the immigration status of someone they suspect could be in the country illegally.

Tuesday the Mexican government issued a travel alert for its citizens heading to Arizona.

The Mexican government has issued the travel alert for its citizens who will travel here, or who live here or study here.

In part the travel alert warns Mexicans, "as was clear during the legislative process, there is a negative political environment for migrant communities and for all Mexican visitors."

The Mexican government believes the U.S. needs immigration reform, but that this is not the way to do it.

The Mexican Consul in Tucson Juan Manuel Calderon Jaimes says, "Is not the way for the state of Arizona to take care of this issue that's going to make it a very hard situation...very hard times for the Mexican people living or visiting in this state."

Mexico's displeasure is clear in the language of the travel alert.

It says, "As long as no clear criteria are defined for when, where and who the authorities will inspect, it must be assumed that every Mexican citizen may be harassed and questioned without further cause at any time."

The consul and Tucson area businesses are worried about the economic impact of the law and of the travel alert.

The consul says Mexican tourists spend at least $2.4 million a day in Pima County alone.

"We think the state of Arizona doesn't recognize the economic contribution the Mexican population that live and come to visit to spend in this state," Calderon says.

The Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is concerned too.

The Chamber's President and CEO Lea Marquez Peterson says, "Certainly Mexican tourism is such a huge part of our economy and I've heard numbers as large as a billion dollars annually in southern Arizona."

Marquez Peterson says the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce does not support any boycott of the state.

"We're worried the Mexican government will ask people to stay home...ask people not to visit or shop in our community, and that will make it a very tough situation. It's already tough economic times."

This is the travel alert that was emailed to KOLD News 13 from the Mexican Consulate in Tucson:

Travel alert

Tuesday April 27th | México, D.F.

Following the adoption in the state of Arizona, United States, of the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act" (SB1070), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico makes the following recommendations to Mexican nationals who have scheduled trips to that entity, or that reside or study in its territory:

1. In recent days there have been public demonstrations and protests in different cities against the decision of the Governor of the state to sign the law. The events have always been peaceful. It is important to act with prudence and respect local laws.

2. The law will take effect 90 days after the end of the current session of the State Legislature. Thus, at this moment the legal framework remains unchanged. However, as was clear during the legislative process, there is a negative political environment for migrant communities and for all Mexican visitors.

3. Under the new law, foreigners who do not carry the immigration documents issued to them when entering the United States may be arrested and sent to immigration detention centers. Carrying the available documentation, even before the law comes into force, will help avoid needless confrontations. As long no clear criteria are defined for when, where and who the authorities will inspect, it must be assumed that every Mexican citizen may be harassed and questioned without further cause at any time.

4. The new law will also make it illegal to hire or be hired from a motor vehicle stopped on a roadway or highway, regardless of the immigration status of those involved. While these rules are also not yet in force, extreme caution should be used.

5. Mexican nationals who are in the United States, regardless of their immigration status, have inalienable human rights and can resort to protection mechanisms under international law, U.S. federal law, and Arizona state law. The functions of the five Mexican consulates in Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Nogales and Douglas) include providing legal advice to all Mexicans who consider they have been subjected to any abuse by the authorities. Nongovernmental organizations have also announced their intention to support those in need.

6. Mexicans in Arizona requiring consular assistance may use the toll-free consular protection phone number, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-877-6326-6785 (1-877-63CONSUL). The consular network in Arizona has a permanent telephone service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

7. Mexican Consulates in Arizona:

Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix

1990 West Camelback Road Suite 110, Phoenix, Arizona, 85015

08:00 to 17:00 (602) 242-7398

conphoenix@sre.gob.mx.

Consulate of Mexico in Tucson

553 South Stone Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, 85701

8:00 - 17:00 hrs (520) 882-5595

contucmx@sre.gob.mx.

Consulate General of Mexico in Nogales

135 W. Cardwell St., Nogales, Arizona, 85621

8:00 to 17:00 (520) 287-2521 ,287-3381