The director of the national automobile association declared, “When it comes to foreigners, we’re a little more strict here.” A manager of a driver’s license office said, “Our constitution has certain restrictions for foreigners.”

Think they’ll get called “bigots” for their tough stance against illegal aliens? Of course not… because they’re in Mexico.

MEXICO CITY - The question of whether to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants ignited a national debate in the United States. But in Mexico, the largest source of U.S. immigrants, there’s no question: Here, you must be a legal resident to get a driver’s license.

All of Mexico’s 31 states, along with Mexico City, require foreigners to present a valid visa if they want a driver’s license, according to a survey of states by The Arizona Republic.

Mexico, the country that accounts for more than half of the illegal aliens that cross into the U.S. requires a valid visa before issuing a driver’s license.

And what does Mexico think of the U.S. trying to employ the same policy?

Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretariat declined to comment on the controversy this week, but the Mexican government has fought U.S. restrictions on licenses in the past.

In 2004, the former Mexican consul in New York, Arturo Sarukhan, called such rules “a policy without a purpose” during a hearing in the New York State Assembly.

Yet, licensing offices in all of Mexico’s 31 states, along with the Federal District, where Mexico City is located, said they require applicants to prove their citizenship.

Viva la hipocresía.