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FOREIGNERS' LEGAL STATUS
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cluded within the scope of similar regulations, all forming a part of a comprehensive "nationalization program."

In fact, if the Mexican government were allowed to enforce retroactive laws affecting certain property rights of foreigners, there seems to be no reason why the application could not be logically extended to the entire field of their privileges. If foreigners could be required, as an arbitrary condition of continuing to operate their properties, to divorce themselves from the privilege of appealing to their own governments for the protection of their property rights, they might be required to surrender all right of appeal on any ground in return for a grant of the same privilege.

The Constitution contains still another clause that seems to carry the possibility of abuse in relation to the personal and property rights of foreigners, though it has not appeared prominently in the discussions thus far raised. The right to live in Mexico is subordinated to the powers of the executive "in so far as relates to the limitations imposed by law in regard to emigration, immigration, and the public health of the country, or in regard to undesirable foreigners resident in the country,"[1] and "the Executive shall have the exclusive right to expel from the Republic forthwith, and without judicial process, any foreigner whose presence he may deem inexpedient."[2]

Similar clauses are not unknown in the legislation of other countries and the exercise, within reasonable


  1. Article 11.
  2. Article 33.