(CNSNews.com) - Juan Hernandez, the man who served in Vicente Fox's cabinet when the latter was president of Mexico, is now advising Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on reaching out to Hispanics during his presidential bid.

Hernandez is the son of a Mexican father and American mother and has dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico.

He has not responded to requests by Cybercast News Service to answer critics who say a man who allegedly took an oath of office to the Mexican government and has been an outspoken advocate for open borders and illegal immigrants should clarify how his views comport with those of McCain, who reportedly has toughened his views on illegal immigration since entering the presidential race.

"The fact that (McCain) would pick a person who has worked as a foreign government official is very troubling," Steven Camarota, director of research with the Center for Immigration Studies, told Cybercast News Service. "That person has taken an oath to a foreign government, and now (McCain) wants to make him an integral part of his campaign."

McCain's campaign didn't return calls to Cybercast News Service, but Brian Rogers, spokesman for the campaign, has told news outlets that Hernandez is only an adviser and does not have a policy role.

But Camarota said Hernandez's job with the campaign calls into question McCain's claim that he "gets it" concerning immigration after the collapse of the federal government's proposed comprehensive immigration reform last year.

"It's not at all clear if (McCain) believes in securing our borders," Camarota said.

A Rasmussen poll in May 2007 showed that 72 percent of Americans think it is "very important" for the government to improve its enforcement of the borders and reduce illegal immigration.

Some 48 percent opposed last year's immigration reform bill, the so-called amnesty bill backed by McCain and President Bush, while 26 percent were "not sure" of their position on the legislation.

On her Web site, conservative Michelle Malkin said of Hernandez's advisory role: "McCain knew what he was getting and so should Republican voters."

But perhaps Hernandez himself has provided the most fodder for his critics by making countless appearances on television touting his open borders message. Diggersrealm.com posted a video montage of some of those appearances, including one on "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on CNN.
br>"If we become a different kind of nation that doesn't open its borders to immigrants, we will lose what makes this nation work," Hernandez said. On another show, he said if Mexicans live and work in America they should "think Mexico first."

But some experts say Hernandez has the right credentials to advise a presidential candidate, including his heritage and experience.

"My dealings with Juan Hernandez have been entirely positive," Dan Griswold, director of the libertarian Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies, told Cybercast News Service. "He is a very thoughtful person who brings a thoughtful perspective to a presidential campaign."

In a May 15, 2007 essay for the Reform Institute, where Hernandez is a senior fellow, he wrote under the headline "Immigration Debate a Test of Our Core Values."

"This debate goes to the heart of what America is all about. Two fundamental pillars of our society are our dedication to achieving prosperity through hard work and our devotion to the Judeo-Christian values of compassion, mercy and inclusion," Hernandez wrote.

"Instead of backing away from these core beliefs and fencing ourselves in, we must renew this spirit through a sensible and effective immigration policy that provides a path to permanent legal status for immigrants who strengthen our economy and society," he added.

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