1. Which country has the toughest immigration laws on the continent of North America: Canada, Mexico or the United States?

2. In which country is it a felony to be an illegal immigrant? (A felony is a serious crime which can be punished by one or more years in prison.)

3. The proposed McCain-Kennedy immigration reform law would allow illegal immigrants to apply for temporary work permits that could last for six years. They would have to clear criminal background checks, pass an English language test and pay a $2,000 fee to qualify. At the end of the six years, they and their families could apply for permanent resident status, and five years later for citizenship.
-Supporters of the bill say that it is fair, and will allow hard-working people who have been here for many years an opportunity to earn citizenship.
-Opponents of the bill call it amnesty, saying it will reward people for breaking the law, and send the message to others that it is ok to come to the U.S. illegally.
Mexico supports this bill.

Describe the double-standard Mexico has between their own immigration policy and what they want the U.S.'s immigration policy to be.

4. The first 2 sets of bullet points in the article list the general conditions required for immigration to Mexico, as stated in the Mexican constitution. Of the 12 points listed, with which do you agree? Which of these do you think the U.S. also requires? Of those required in the U.S., which do you think are actually enforced?

5. Re-read the main ideas of each of the last 5 sets of bullet points that describe Mexico's main immigration law, "The General Law on Population":

• Mexico welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to Mexican society.
• Mexican authorities must keep track of every single person in the country.
• Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned.
• Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons.
• Under Mexican law, illegal immigration is a felony.
• Mexicans who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law.

The Mexican government enforces these laws in Mexico. Do you think the U.S. should take Michael Waller's suggestion from the last paragraph and re-write our immigration law modeled after Mexican law? Explain your answer.

6. Has this article caused you to change your mind about your position on illegal immigration? Explain your answer.