Remember Arizona’s controversial new immigration law, which basically gives police legal authority to “racial profile” Mexicans anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant to verify their citizenship? Well, Mexico is now fighting back with a strong message for Arizona: TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME!
In a bizarre twist, the Arizona law has inspired a satirical ad for tourism to the bordering Mexican state of Sonora which has Arizona officials steaming mad and demanding an apology. The half-page ad, which ran in a Phoenix newspaper on Friday, featured a military man in camouflage looking through binoculars with the tagline “In Sonora, we’re looking for people from Arizona,” a veiled reference that Arizonans visiting the popular Mexican beach resort could be stopped and detained in Mexico, just like Mexicans are being stopped and detained in Arizona.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Phoenix’s Maricopa County, is demanding an apology from Mexican tourism officials for what he perceives to be a “threatening” ad campaign. Arpaio even called for Arizonans to avoid traveling to Mexico, saying the ad “went well beyond being irresponsible, it appears to threaten Arizonans.” Hmmm…
But if that wasn’t enough to get Sheriff Arpaio riled up, get ready for this: The popular Mexican resort town of Puerto Peñasco (commonly known as Rocky Point) is raising the stakes even further by stopping Arizonan drivers south of the U.S. border at unofficial checkpoints. According to Michelle Donati of AAA, if you’re on your way to the Mexican coast, be prepared to get stopped at an unofficial checkpoint to show your papers and prove you’re not in their country illegally. “The people manning these checkpoints have just asked for identification and have let travelers on their way,” Donati said. “If you do feel like you’ve come across one of these checkpoints, the consulate is asking that you do report that so they can get further information and provide that to other travelers.”
Police chiefs from about a dozen cities met with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday to talk about concerns they have regarding Arizona’s new law. The group included police chiefs from Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Houston, Texas. The chiefs are worried the law is “driving a wedge” between the community and police, and is damaging the trust that officers have worked to build over many years, according to a statement by the group. Attorney General Holder has already instructed the Dept. of Justice to look into the legalities of the Arizona law, with hopes of harnessing an ever growing public backlash that could eventually get out of hand.
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I knew this was coming. Good for Mexico turning the tabels on Arizona. Maybe now they can see how it feels on the other side of the fence.