It's long past time for one of the Republicans promising defense of America's borders and immigration laws to tell intrusive Mexicans to shut their taco holes about our internal affairs.

Mexico's foreign minister accused U.S. presidential candidates Monday of worsening an already "adverse climate" for Mexican migrants and vowed to redouble efforts to protect the rights of her country's citizens living and working in the United States.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a conference for Mexican diplomats here, Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Cantellano said, "Being effective in the defense and support of the migrants implies treating them the same way whether they are in Mexico or outside of the country." She did not specify what steps would be taken.

Mexican officials have said they are concerned that migrants are being treated unfairly in workplaces and, in some cases, being denied public services. The presidential campaign has frequently inflamed tensions on issues related to immigration. [Mexico Rebukes U.S. Candidates On Migrant Issues Washington Post, Jan 7 2008]

You see, if illegal Mexicans were denied public services on the American taxpayer's tab, then they would have to pay more for their own upkeep and would have less cash available to send home to Mexico in the form of remittances — over $24 billion in 2006, $13 billion from California alone.