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CONFIRMED: US Immigration Laws Less Harsh Than Other Countries


Washington, May 5, 2006 - In a study released today by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, the Law Library of Congress compares the immigration laws of the United States to that of several other countries, including: Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Associated Press is reporting:

Defending his House-passed immigration bill that sparked street protest by millions of immigrants, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee issued a report Friday showing that several countries are harsher than the United Stated in their treatment of illegal immigrants and their employers.

The Law Library of Congress study of immigration laws in six countries found that all but Brazil have criminal penalties for illegal entry and presence within their borders.

In four of the countries - Japan, Switzerland, Sweden and Egypt - employers can be jailed for up to three months to up to three years for hiring illegal immigrants.

Last week, Congressman Kingston blogged and podcasted about how Mexico slamming the state of Georgia for its "tough" immigration policies was like throwing rocks while in a glass house because Mexico's own immigration laws are extremely harsh.

In fact, citing a study (Mexico? Glass House) by J. Michael Waller of the Center for Security Policy, Congressman Kingston noted that the Mexican Constitution states that:

  • Immigrants and foreign visitors are banned from public political discourse.
  • Immigrants and foreigners are denied certain basic property rights.
  • Immigrants are denied equal employment rights.
  • Immigrants and naturalized citizens will never be treated as real Mexican citizens.
  • Immigrants and naturalized citizens are not to be trusted in public service.
  • Immigrants and naturalized citizens may never become members of the clergy.
  • Private citizens may make citizens arrests of lawbreakers (i.e., illegal immigrants) and hand them to the authorities.
  • Immigrants may be expelled from Mexico for any reason and without due process.
    • It's clear that the will of the American people to better control and enforce our nation's borders is consistent with the will of people in other countries.

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