9 January 2005. Add partial translation by the New York Times today.

7 January 2005. Thanks to A.

New York Times, 6 January 2005

A Mexican Manual for Illegal Migrants Upsets Some in U.S.

By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 5 - The Mexican government drew fire from American advocates of tighter borders on Wednesday for publishing a pamphlet [below] that instructs migrants how to safely enter the United States illegally and live there without being detected.

Officials here say the small booklet, illustrated in comic-book style, is not intended to encourage illegal immigration, but to reduce the loss of life. Last year, more than 300 migrants died while crossing rivers and deserts to reach the United States.

The guidebook also advises would-be migrants to avoid hiring professional immigrant-smugglers and to refuse to carry packages for others. It also instructs people never to lie to border officials, carry false documents or resist arrest.

But groups favoring stricter immigration controls said the pamphlet amounted to a how-to manual for illegal immigrants. The booklet gives advice on what clothes to wear when fording a river and how to cross a desert without getting dehydrated.

It also counsels migrants to keep a low profile once in the United States, telling them, for instance, to stay away from loud parties or discos that might be raided by the police and to stay out of domestic disputes, which might lead to an arrest. Finally, it lists what rights migrants have if caught, among them safe transport home, medical care, food and water.

"This is not the action of a friendly neighbor," said Representative Tom Tancredo, the Colorado Republican who chairs the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus. "What would the Mexican government say if we encouraged our citizens to violate Mexican law?"

Mexico's Foreign Ministry, however, said its intent in publishing the "Guide for the Mexican Migrant" was to warn migrants of the dangers they might face if they choose to slip illegally into the United States.

Gerónimo Gutiérrez, Mexico's under secretary for North American affairs, said the guide was written to dissuade people from making a clandestine journey or at least to warn them of the perils and legal risks should they decide to go. About 1.5 million copies of the guide were printed and distributed throughout the country in December.

"Just last year over 300 Mexicans died in their attempt to enter the United States, the vast majority if not all of them in search of a job," Mr. Gutiérrez said. "The Mexican government obviously has an obligation to take all actions possible in order to avoid the loss of life."

He added, "It is a natural and fair response to consider this as an attempt to promote undocumented immigration, but that is absolutely not the intent of the Mexican government."

But groups seeking stricter immigration laws argued that Mexican officials were being disingenuous in asserting that the pamphlet does not encourage illegal migration. They say that Mexico wants to continue exporting unemployed people and reaping the benefits of money sent home to their families.

"If the Mexican government were really very concerned about their citizens dying in the desert, why doesn't it use its army and police to prevent people from crossing in those areas?" said Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors tighter borders.

Others said the pamphlet only highlighted the need to revamp the American immigration system, which seems to have no effective response to the yearly flood of Mexican migrants seeking jobs. "The publication is nothing more than another symptom of a broken immigration system," said Paul L. Zulkie, president of American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Source of images: http://www.sre.gob.mx/tramites/consulares/guiamigrante/default.htm

INTRODUCTION Dear Countryman: This guide is meant to give you some practical advice that could be useful if you have made the difficult decision to seek new labor opportunities outside your country. The safe way to enter another country is to obtain your passport from the Mexican foreign ministry, and a visa from the embassy or consulate of the country to which you wish to travel. Still, in practice we see many cases of Mexicans who try to cross the northern border without the necessary documents, traveling through dangerous terrain, which includes deserts and rivers with strong and sometimes invisible currents.

By reading this guide, you can also find out about basic legal issues concerning your stay in the United States of America without the appropriate immigration documentation, as well as about the rights you have in that country, once there, regardless of your migratory status. Always keep in mind that there are mechanisms so that you may enter the United States of America legally. ...

DANGERS OF CROSSING ... Crossing the river can be very risky, especially if you cross alone and at night. Heavy clothing grows heavier when wet and this makes it difficult to swim or float.

If you cross the desert, try to walk during hours when the heat is not so intense. The highways and towns are very spread out, so it will take several days to find roads and you will not be able to lug food or water for such a long time; you can also get lost. Drinking water mixed with salt will help to replace lost body fluids. Although you will feel thirstier, there is a much lower risk of dehydration if you drink salt water. If you get lost, use power lines, train tracks or dirt roads as guides.

BE CAREFUL WITH 'POLLEROS'... They may try to fool you with assurances that they will take you across in a few hours through mountains or deserts. This is not true! They can risk your life leading you across rivers, irrigation canals, desert zones, train lines or high-speed highways. If you decide to resort to "polleros," "coyotes" or "pateros" to cross the border, consider the following precautions: Do not let him out of your sight; remember that he is the only one who knows the terrain and, therefore, the only one who can lead you across.

Distrust anyone who offers to take you to the "other side" and asks you to drive a vehicle or carry a package for him. Those packages often contain drugs or other prohibited substances. For this reason, many people have ended up in prison. If you transport other people, you could be confused with a "pollero" or "coyote," and they can accuse you of smuggling people or stealing a vehicle.

DO NOT USE FALSE DOCUMENTS ... If you try to cross with false documents or ones that belong to another person, keep in mind the following: Using false documents or those of another person is a federal crime in the United States, for which you can be tried and sent to prison; the same is true if you use a false name or say you are a United States citizen when you are not.

IF YOU ARE DETAINED Do not resist arrest. Do not assault or insult the official. Do not throw stones or objects at the official or at the patrol car, as this is considered a provocation of the officials. If the officials feel assaulted, it's probable that they will use force to detain you. Raise your hands slowly so that they see that you are unarmed.

Do not run or try to escape. Do not hide in dangerous places. Do not cross high-speed highways. It is better that they detain you for a few hours and repatriate you to Mexico than that you get lost in the desert.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS! Your rights are: To know where you are. To ask permission to communicate with a representative of the nearest Mexican consulate, so that you can get help. To refuse to make a declaration or sign documents, especially if they are in English, without the advice of a lawyer or a representative of the Mexican consulate. To receive medical attention if you are injured or sick. To be respected and treated well, no matter what your migrant status. To be transported in a safe manner. To have water and food whenever you need it. Not to state your migratory status when detained. Not to be hit or insulted.

Not to be held incommunicado. To ask for a receipt, so that you can reclaim your belongings if they are taken from you.

[No translation.]

AVOID Avoid calling attention to yourself, at least while you arrange your stay or documents for living in the United States. The best formula is to not alter your routine at work or at home. Avoid loud parties; the neighbors might be bothered and call the police and you could be arrested. Avoid getting into fights. If you go to a bar or nightclub and a fight breaks out, leave, for in the confusion you could be arrested even though you did nothing. Avoid family or domestic violence. In the United States, as in Mexico, it is a crime. Domestic violence is not only blows, but also threats, shouts and mistreatment.

If you are accused of domestic violence against your children, partner or some other person you live with, you could go to jail. Do not carry firearms, knives or other dangerous objects. Keep in mind that many Mexicans are dead or in prison for this reason. If the police enter your house or apartment, do not resist, but ask for the search warrant. It's better to cooperate and ask to be put in touch with the nearest Mexican consulate.