because America is on the brink and Mexico is largely oblivious.

There really is no comparison between what is going on politically in the two countries.

And Mexicans tend to be pretty well informed about what is going on in the US, much more than Americans are about what is going on in Mexico.

Should we second guess the Attorney General? Take sides when there's a lot of mud in the water? I don't think there's indifference or even oblivion over the border, it's more like stunned confusion as events unwind so rapidly.

I am in Mexico, so I am very aware. I listen to NPR pretty much all day and read the major US news sources, and I'm not seeing or hearing a whole lot about this.

I don't think the US should intervene at all, but I would like the US to pay attention to it's brother to the south.

Honestly, there really isn't a lot of mud in this water. It's pretty much clear what happened and that barely scratches the surface about what is going on in many areas of the country.

This event took place September 26, so it's not unwinding all that rapidly at all. But if it's stunned confusion, I'll be happy with that. As long as people in the US are paying attention.

I think many of them wouldn't recognize Joe or Jill Biden in a photograph.

They are aware of Kim Kardashian's new behind pictures, though.

However, of the ten percent of non-Hispanic, non-Spanish speaking people who are politically aware, I'd say this issue resonates with them about as much as the shooting of the Canadian servicemember did on Parliament Hill. It's not on the top of their agenda, but an awareness has percolated through.

I'd guess among the viewers of UNIVISION, Telemundo, MundoFox, CNNenespanol, etc., the awareness is probably around 90 percent.

I have no doubt that mexican-americans are very aware.

I guess I see this as important because people in the US need to know why some are so desperate to leave Mexico and come to the US. Awareness might lead to a increased level of understanding and empathy.

Also, many of the problems around immigration might get better if the corruption in Mexico was seriously addressed.

Many here feel this may Mexico's "spring", like the Arab spring.

Mexicans are not known for sitting there and taking it for very long and are very, very proud of their revolution(s).

Clearly I am biased. I am working towards citizenship and I love this country.

you aren't) and if you won't be a burden on the state--if you have a source of income--the process should be smooth.

I just obtained my Residente Temporal yesterday and I am very, very happy about that.

Most gringos down here find the system so complex that they hire a lawyer or "expediter".

But being really hard headed, stubborn and loving a challenge, I did it myself.

You have to begin the process at an embassy in your home country and there are lots and lots of teeny, weeny rules that must be followed exactly.

But I had fun doing it. I got to practice a lot of my spanish and the government workers were uniformly kind and helpful, even though they are very persnickety.

Have you been through the process?

talents and means of support who aren't crooks. Most of what I know comes from blogs like this one and I know that being Gerard Depardieu and getting Russian citizenship in the blink of an eye is not the norm~~! Of course, he did bring the cash, and that helps...!

and all we can do is get a chuckle out of the process. I only know a few people who were turned down, but they didn't meet the income/savings requirements (which are actually really low).

I used the mexperience website (and a couple of others) while navigating through this. They have some excellent information and were pretty helpful.

But I've never lived in a place where the rules change as frequently and dramatically, so it's hard to be current. The mexperience site is selling services, so they stay very up to date. Others not so much.

I am now entitled to buy mexican health insurance, which is fantastic. I have an ACA policy, but they would only cover a serious emergency here. Now I can avail myself of the excellent care available here.

You want citizenship? What if you can't find a job? What if you need to be a financial burden to Mexico?

Horrible rules like that. Perhaps we should for a year and see how they like it. They would change their disgusting rules so fast.

Visitors to the us have to obtain special permission to work and the rules are stringent. You have to get a work permit and it's not easy.

These aren't disgusting rules at all. When there is not enough work to go around, then it makes sense to make sure your citizens get jobs before foreigners do.

You think a person coming into the United States from Mexico has a job? 10 million are hoping the President gives them instant citizenship. Canada and Mexico should do the same for us.

One is what it takes to become a citizen or permanent resident of a country. For all three countries, there is a path. At certain points along that path, you are able to seek employment. A poor country like Mexico has a requirement that you will be able to support yourself (the requirements are very low) when you initially apply for residency. Once you have been there for a given amount of time, you can apply for the visa that will allow you to work.

As I said, anyone can come in on a tourist visa, but just like in the US, you can not work on that visa.

The other is about undocumented immigrants. Our immigration crisis is due to the fact that people are coming in from Mexico in order to work and doing it without pursuing the proper paperwork. They are doing this in part because the rules in the US make it difficult to obtain the kinds of papers you need to work. In addition, it's expensive and takes a really long time.

You act as if we are somehow being treated unfairly by Mexico, which would be funny if it weren't so tragically wrong.

I heard if you go to Mexico illegally they will throw you in jail. That is not equal.

I'm not sure how one could come to Mexico illegally, by the way. They are really, really touchy about things like guns and drugs, and they will definitely throw you in jail if you cross the border with those.

But coming in just requires filling out a simple form which they stamp and you carry around with you until your leave. If you plan to stay more than a week, you have to pay a small fee, then it is good for up to 6 months.

If you overstay or somehow come in without the tourist visa, they will most likely just help you get one. At the very worst, they will tell you to go home.

Where do you get this information about people being thrown in jail.

I think you have this whole thing completely turned on it's head. It is much easier to come to Mexico than it is to go to the US.

We also--like some (but not all) other countries do, as well--do humanitarian immigration. You do remember the poem on the Statue of Liberty, don't you? You did learn that in school?

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

from working and if caught doing so will be exported.

Anyone can come to visit for up to 6 months, but why should Mexico take care of you if you have a home country?

Particularly if that home country is one as wealthy as the US.

The AZ guv carried on about headless bodies in the desert of AZ and they suspected it was from Mexican cartels. It was debunked, but each of these news stories from Mexico is seized upon by the GOP to spike hysteria in every election.

That's what inspired the militias to go to Texas, all ready to shoot Mexicans if they cross the border and who knows how many hours on Faux. It's a neverending refrain.


From what I read just at DU, there is plenty of interest in the trials and tribulations in Mexico. The Teabagger solution is to block Mexicans by any means possible. Liberals don't need to push the evidence that Mexico is in big trouble. The RWers do it everyday.

And then there are those who aren't bigots, but say that anything we do at all will be wrong and worse than doing nothing. So don't say a thing, stay out of it. There's no winning on this in the court of public opinion. Because any politican who says we must do something will be skewered.

The people that care, who see this heart to heart, aren't in the media anyway.

I'm seeing some of it on DU as well, so I'm guessing the MSM may be pushing this out in a negative way.

I don't think that the US should do anything at all, but I want people in the US to be aware of what is happening and be supportive of those who are protesting for justice and against corruption and violence.

I'm going to keep pushing it and keep it front and center.

Tomorrow is El Dia de la Revolucion. It is a big national holiday and I predict that there will be massive protests that will make OWS look like a tea party.

and the number of Mexican Americans and recent emigrés, Mexico's internal problems could quickly become our internal problems.

Mexico is the US's brother to the south. We share an enormous border and if something big happens in Mexico, it is likely to effect the US.

But even if it does not really effect the US, I think we should care about them.

The Mexican-American War, Pershing going after Pancho Villa, etc.

The question for me is when will the problems in Mexico convince US-headquartered manufacturing to seek a different environment.

we are funding the drug war. This is our issue.

I am shocked by the lack of attention to this. CBS news ran a report that was a little over a minute long. I've been looking for a U.S. politician commenting on this situation, I haven't found a single one so far.