Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, announced her government’s intention to ban advertisements from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that target migrants. The inflammatory ads include U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. They advertise against illegal migration into the United States and have run widely on all forms of media in Mexico.
Sheinbaum explains that this isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. She points to a recent provision inserted into Mexico’s telecommunications law that prohibits domestic media from disseminating foreign political propaganda. Under a former administration, somebody deleted this rule. In retaliation, Sheinbaum requested an immediate investigation into the grounds of its dismissal.
The president highlighted the fact that Mexico is still open to foreign advertisements that promote tourism and cultural exchange. She firmly draws the line at political propaganda, stating, “We think our sovereignty and respect for Mexico deserve reinserting that article into the law.”
The Mexican government has already sent proposed reforms to lawmakers. These reforms combined seek to prevent foreign governments from deploying overt political and ideological propaganda inside Mexico. The DHS advertisements have been criticized by Mexico’s National Council to Prevent Discrimination, which stated, “From our analysis, we have found that the spot contains a discriminatory message that violates human dignity and may encourage acts of rejection or violence against people on the move.”
Kristi Noem’s campaign ads go for the jugular in addressing would-be migrants. One notable message warns: “If you are a criminal alien considering entering America illegally, don’t even think about it.” Run during high profile soccer matches and other primetime programming created a circus of criticism, outrage and retaliation from offended Mexican officials.
Sheinbaum has called these billboards racist and discriminatory. It’s true, she says, to the tune of a multimillion-dollar campaign hatched to stop illegal entry into the United States. In a statement, she remarked, “The problem is this propaganda from the government itself, in addition to acts that we consider discriminatory.”
Addressing these complaints, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released statements defending its campaign. A spokesperson stated, “The data shows the world is hearing our message. Border crossings have reached the lowest ever recorded.” They have continued to argue that their advertising is good, perhaps even the backbone of efficiency and effectiveness and that this initiative increases border security.
Mexico’s Commission for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination is moving to address the problem. First, they have issued a cease and desist letter to all broadcasters, demanding that they cease airing the DHS advertisement. In light of the escalating tensions over these ads, political figures like Fernández Noroña have expressed strong support for Sheinbaum’s call for reinstating the previously removed article from Mexico’s telecommunications law.
This is all happening extremely quickly. That lens exposes the moral and legal complexities involved in U.S.-Mexico international relations and U.S. immigration policy. Governments of Sheinbaum’s party (Morena) have aggressively defended Mexican sovereignty, but now must deal with the implications of foreign advertising on Mexican soil.
