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 News from Around Banderas Bay | March 2006 
North American Neighbors Work to Keep an Economic Edge
 Nedra Pickler - Associated Press
| | President George W. Bush (L) makes remarks during a joint news conference with Mexican President Vicente Fox (C) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the conclusion of their summit at a Cancun resort hotel in Mexico March 31, 2006. Bush, Fox and Harper have gathered in the Mexican resort city for a series of summit meetings of North American leaders. (Jason Reed/Reuters) |
US President Bush insists he wants to make it legal for more immigrants to work in the United States, inviting an election-year debate with conservatives in his own party while building an alliance with the leader of Mexico.
The immigration bill that is creating a rift on Capitol Hill was the main topic of talks between Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox, meeting at this Caribbean resort city in a two-day summit along with the new prime minister of Canada.
The three sat down together Friday for an hourlong meeting and then met with CEOs from their countries at an enormous triangle-shaped table before a news conference around lunchtime. Directly after, Bush was ending his approximately 40-hour stay here to spend the weekend at his Texas ranch.
The meetings are aimed at strengthening North American relations and building on the trade increases that have resulted from the 12-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. Canada and Mexico are the United States' top two trading partners.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in his first meeting with Bush since taking office two months ago with a promise to strengthen U.S. ties, spoke glowingly of the countries' close relationship, but made it clear there is a serious sticking point. He said he was taking Bush at face value when the U.S. president said he wanted to resolve a long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.
I just reminded the president that Canada's position on this is very clear, and if we don't see a resolution, Canada is certainly going to continue to pursue all its legal options, as well as enhanced support for our industry, through this battle, Harper warned.
For the most part in their public appearances, the leaders spoke about how they are working together. That was especially the case on immigration, with Bush and Fox clearly trying to sway a divided Congress to create a program to allow illegal immigrants an estimated 6 million of them from Mexico to work temporarily in the United States in low-paying jobs.
The Senate this week is debating an immigration bill that includes a guest worker program. The version that passed the Republican-controlled House late last year took a get-tough approach calling for more fences along the border and tougher penalties for those who sneak across and did not create the guest worker program that Bush wants.
But Bush said he's optimistic that disagreements on Capitol Hill can be worked out.
I told the president that I am committed to having a comprehensive immigration bill on my desk, Bush said. And by comprehensive, I mean not only border security a bill that has border security in it, a bill that has interior enforcement in it but a bill that has a worker permit program in it.
The issue has united Bush and Fox, whose friendship dates back to Bush's time as Texas governor but was strained over Fox's objections to the war in Iraq. But immigration has divided Bush's Republican party, with business interests who want cheap labor battling conservatives who want a tough policy against illegal immigrants.
At a news conference Thursday in Washington, a dozen House Republicans blasted the Senate bill. Bush was not immune to their criticism.
I don't think he's concerned about alienating voters, he's not running for re-election, said Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado. I wish he'd think about the party and of course I also wish he'd think about the country. |
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