Mexico's Harsh Treatment of Illegals

MEXICO CITY, Mexico - For the past month, America's attention has been focused on the Middle East war. During that time, another 300,000 illegal aliens have crossed America's border with Mexico. But you won't believe how Mexico treats its illegal aliens.

Illegal aliens from Mexico were allowed to march through America's cities, demanding citizenship – some even waved the Mexican flag. But illegal aliens inside Mexico, mostly from Guatemala and Honduras, are literally on the run.

Some travel by train and some hide, trying to stay one step ahead of the Mexican Federal Police.

The Mexican government was outraged by the movement to build a new wall on America's southern border. Mexico's Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez went before the cameras to protest.

Derbez said, "Mexican immigrants are not felons or terrorists. They are human beings who deserve respect and the opportunity to live with dignity."

But in Mexico, when it comes to the treatment of its illegal aliens it's, ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’

Mexico has called U.S. immigration policy "harsh," and has called the proposed wall on the U.S. Mexico border "shameful." But some have called the Mexican immigration policy "hypocritical."

Enter Mexico illegally and you're treated as a felon. If you're caught by the Federal Police, you'll be fortunate if you're only deported immediately. The unfortunate are robbed, abused, raped, or even murdered by corrupt police officers.

Fernando Aguilar Neri coordinates Red Cross efforts to help illegal aliens in Mexico.

“When people approach us, they are usually fearful that we work with the government and are afraid of being reported,” said Neri. “…One of the seven principles of the Red Cross is complete neutrality and independence, so we can't cooperate with the Mexican government on the illegal alien issue.”

Neri says that most illegals moving through Mexico try to avoid the cities.

The Catholic Church also shields illegal aliens from the Mexican government. CBN found two shelters for illegals in Mexico City, but weren't allowed inside.

Most of the Central Americans inside are on their way to the United States. They'll be fortunate if they arrive unharmed.

One immigrant from El Salvador said, "If you are carrying any money, the police take the money and then say, get out of here."

"We still have 20 days of travel (to reach the United States)," another one said.

But if you're a Mexican wanting to enter the U.S. illegally, then you can count on the Mexican government's help and support. It even has a special department called Grupos Beta that helps Mexicans cross the U.S. border illegally.

But in an interview with CBN News, the head of Mexico's Immigration Service, Hipolito Treviño, denied it.

“Grupos Beta is the Mexican government initiative which does not help people cross the border, but they do assist them when they have problems in the border area,” Trevino said.

But Grupos Beta gives them a booklet, which includes tips on how to safely cross the U.S border. Trevino denied the allegation that immigrants are also given maps by the government.

“No maps,” he said. “We give them recommendations about the dangerous animals they'll encounter, how much water they need every day, what to do in case they get lost, what to do in case they get detained by the border patrol, which paths are dangerous because of crime.”

The reason for the government's help? The cash sent home by Mexicans in the U.S. constitutes the second biggest source of foreign currency in Mexico after the oil industry. Last year that was $20 billion, or 2 percent of Mexico's GDP.

About 10 percent of Mexico's population is now living in the United States, that’s over 10 million people. And how many illegal aliens in its own country has Mexico legalized in the past five years? Just 15,000.

The Mexican government may think a new wall on the U.S. border is offensive, but critics are saying far worse things about Mexico's immigration policy.