The Battle of Rio Danubio

Mexican politicians are angry because the United States has occupied Mexican territory. They have taken over Rio Danubio.

Those lousy Americans just moved right in and took it over for themselves. They don’t have the right to do that.

"It seems to me to be a lack of respect, and it is also a violation of national sovereignty," said Tomas Pliego of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party.

What a mess. And Hillary Clinton is scheduled to visit soon.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, of the same party, also has taken up the cause of Rio Danubio.
"The Embassy has not had, nor does it have, authorization to occupy public spaces," Ebrard told reporters. "They shouldn't be the ones who occupy the city.”

You know, I’ve felt the same way. Mexican citizens here without papers have no right to occupy our schools, hospitals, and factories. They shouldn’t be allowed to just waltz in here and help themselves to this country.

What is Rio Danubio, you ask? It is a one-way side street that runs alongside the US Embassy. Officials blocked it off fifteen years ago and covered it with a canopy to give the 2,000 Mexican citizens a day in Mexico City someplace to wait while they apply for a visa to leave that God-forsaken pit of corruption and killing. You are thinking 2,000 people a day waiting in line seems like a huge number. In perspective, here is the official tally of green cards issued to Mexico over the years. (Hint: Mexico gets more of them than any other country.)
2000- 171,445
2001- 204,032
2002- 216,924
2003- 114,758
2004- 173,711
2005- 157,992
2006- 170,042
2007- 143,180
Now, keep all this in mind when Obama and the rest of them talk about “going to the back of the line” as part of the amnesty program. It doesn’t make any sense, does it?

You can get the satellite view of Rio Danubio on Google by calling up a map of
"United States Embassy, Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City". It's the little side street just west of the embassy complex itself.