Diplomats, lawmakers protest Mexican brutality toward Central American immigrants

On May 1, Mexican immigrants led rallies across the U.S. seeking amnesty for illegal aliens. At the same time, demands for immigrant rights are festering in Mexico, which is facing increasing international criticism for how it treats Latin American migrants.

Last month, diplomats from El Salvador and Honduras formally protested after dozens of their citizens accused Mexican authorities of brutality. The top UN advocate for migrant rights toured Mexico and proclaimed that "the impunity with which Mexico victimizes Central American immigrants makes it the principal violator of human rights on the American continent."

At the same time, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, at a summit in New Orleans, was eloquently defending the contributions Mexican immigrants make to the U.S. economy. He didn’t mention the Central American immigrants.

In addition to the UN condemnation, Calderon recently caught flak from lawmakers upset at Mexico's lobbying for a bill that would legalize many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

"Mexico expends enormous resources to prevent Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans from entering Mexico country illegally, but you castigate the United States for wanting secure borders. Mr. President, in my neighborhood that is called hypocrisy," Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.), wrote in an open letter to Calderon.