It has been widely reported that Mexico wants an open border, and is pressing the United States to legalize those who emigrated from their country illegally. But the mainstream media has had little to say about Mexico’s policies with regard to people from other countries.

Mexico makes it almost impossible for an immigrant from another country to gain citizenship—it grants citizenship to only about 3,000 people a year. The U.S. naturalizes about 500,000 new citizens a year. Fewer than one percent of Mexico’s people are foreign born, versus about 13 percent in the United States.

Mexico places severe restrictions on its few foreign-born citizens. Only native-born Mexicans are allowed to hold most federal offices or to serve in the military. Non-natives are barred from state legislatures and governorships, and in many states cannot serve on town councils. Many towns bar non-natives from jobs such as police and firefighters.

At one time the President of Mexico, as well as both of his parents, had to be native born. This law was changed to accommodate Vicente Fox, whose mother was born in Spain.