Following a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by the U.S. government—broadcast on Mexican public television for several days—that criminalizes undocumented migrants, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that a legislative article will be reinstated to prohibit foreign entities from paying for propaganda in mass media outlets.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum pointed out that the article was removed during former President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration. However, it will now be reinstated in the Federal Telecommunications Law.
“In 2014, there was an article that was removed under Peña Nieto. That article stated that radio and TV broadcasters in Mexico may not transmit political, ideological, or commercial propaganda from foreign governments or entities, nor allow their platforms to be used for purposes that could influence the country’s internal affairs,” Sheinbaum explained.
This comes after a TV ad aired last Saturday during halftime of the Liga MX match between América and Mazatlán, on Televisa’s Channel 5, which featured U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, warning:
“If you’re a foreign criminal considering entering the United States illegally, don’t even think about it.”
The 30-second ad, which President Sheinbaum called “discriminatory,” is a shortened version of a longer one-minute ad that has also been shown as a YouTube commercial in Mexico for several weeks.
The full message of the short version says:
“I am Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States. Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for securing our border and putting America first. Let me deliver a clear message from President Trump to the world: If you’re a foreign criminal considering entering the United States illegally, don’t even think about it. Let me be clear: If you come to our country and break our laws, we will go after you. Criminals are not welcome in the United States. President Trump is keeping his promise to make America safe again.”
Mexico’s National Council to Prevent Discrimination (Conapred) and the Ministry of the Interior issued a joint letter last week in response to complaints against several television and radio networks.
“The letter states that Article 1 of the Mexican Constitution prohibits all discriminatory acts or practices, and this ad contains highly discriminatory content,” Sheinbaum explained, reading from the text.
“Articles 223 and 256 of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law establish that discrimination is prohibited in providing such services and that content broadcast under freedom of expression must promote artistic, historical, and cultural values, national unity, and respect for human rights.”
Sheinbaum added:
“In this context, the National Council to Prevent Discrimination has received citizen complaints related to the video broadcast by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It has aired on television and various media, specifically referencing migrants. Our analysis has found that the message contains discriminatory content, undermines human dignity, and may incite rejection and violence against migrants. Therefore, we urge that the ad be removed in order to fulfill the constitutional goal of building a non-discriminatory society,” the letter continues.
“Let’s build, together, a more inclusive and respectful society where human dignity is the central axis of our actions and discourse—because Mexico stands for diversity, inclusion, and rights,” the Mexican president concluded.
The letter was signed by Óscar Camacho Guzmán, Federal Director of Radio and Cinematography, and Claudia Olivia Morales Reza, President of the National Council to Prevent Discrimination.
Sheinbaum said that the telecommunications reform bill will be sent to Congress today or tomorrow to restore the article:
“We’ve decided to reinstate the article and again include it in the law. It’s part of the reforms we’ll be sending to Congress today or tomorrow, to ensure that no foreign government or entity can pay to broadcast ads or propaganda with discriminatory messages.”
She concluded by expressing hope that Conapred’s letter would raise awareness among media outlets:
“If a city from another country wants to promote its tourism or culture, that’s entirely different from a paid ad spreading discriminatory messages.”
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Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
