Mexican Bishop To Herman Cain: That Electric Fence Works On Both Sides

A Mexican Bishop is very unhappy with top GOP presidential contender Herman Cain for his desire to build not only a fence between the border of the U.S. and Mexico, but an electrified fence capable of killing people. Bishop Renato Ascencio Leon of Juarez, Mexico would like to remind Mr. Cain that an electric fence works from both sides, and Americans are often caught entering Mexico illegally. Moreover, crossing the border is a misdemeanor, hardly worthy of what in essence would be the death penalty.

The New York Times reports:

Mr. Cain, speaking at a Tea Party-sponsored rally in Tennessee, made some of his most pointed remarks yet on the issue. He said he might use military troops “with real guns and real bullets” to stop intruders.

Responding to anyone who might consider his remarks “insensitive,” Mr. Cain said the real fault lies with some illegal immigrants. “It’s insensitive for them to be killing our citizens, killing our border agents,” he said. “That’s what’s insensitive. And that mess has to stop.”

…

Brent A. Wilkes, vice chairman of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, said Mr. Cain’s remarks were reflective of increasingly harsh prescriptions offered by the Republican candidates for dealing with illegal immigration.

“These folks who come across the border are at most committing a misdemeanor,” Mr. Wilkes said. “To suggest that they would be electrocuted or shot would be to treat them harsher than we treat murderers or rapists.”

The Catholic News Agency reports:

Bishop Renato Ascencio Leon of Juarez, Mexico has rejected Republican candidate Herman Cain’s suggestion to build an electric fence along the U.S. – Mexico border to stop illegal immigration.

“(Cain) has no right to put up barriers that prevent communication between the inhabitants of both countries,” the bishop said during Mass on Oct. 16 at the Cathedral of Juarez.

Bishop Ascencio is a member of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People.

“If the intention is that the undocumented not be allowed to enter the United States, then they should preach by example and not allow Americans to come to Mexico without the proper documentation,” he added.

Mexican lawmakers should understand “that it is just as much a crime for them to enter the United States illegally as it is for (migrants) to enter our nation illegally,” Bishop Ascencio added.