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 News from Around the Americas | May 2006 
Fox Vows to Address Mexicans' Migration
 Ed Mendel - Union-Tribune
| | Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger greeted Vicente Fox yesterday as the Mexican president arrived at the airport in Sacramento. (Getty Images) |
Sacramento – Mexican President Vicente Fox said that the U.S. Senate vote for sweeping changes in immigration policy is a “monumental step forward” and vowed that his country will continue to improve its economy so Mexicans will have less incentive to cross the border.
His remarks to a joint session of the California Legislature drew applause from Democrats, while Republicans largely remained silent as they wore yellow no más lapel buttons – a protest for “no more” illegal immigration.
“It is a moment that millions of families have been hoping for,” Fox said of the Senate action. “This is the moment that millions of people have been working for.”
Fox spent much of his speech outlining Mexico's progress since his historic election in 2000 ended 71 years of one-party rule under the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.
But the president, who leaves office in December, said he recognized that more debate on immigration lies ahead and that addressing the problem is the “shared responsibility” of both nations.
After the speech, Fox met privately with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and went to a reception attended by hundreds that was hosted by the governor and California first lady Maria Shriver. Later, Schwarzenegger hosted a dinner for Fox in the newly renovated Stanford Mansion in Sacramento.
Fox, a member of the National Action Party, or PAN, winds up his four-day visit to the Western United States today with a speech to the California Chamber of Commerce and a visit to Los Angeles.
As he did during previous stops in Utah and Washington state, Fox laid out four broad points representing “the commitment of my government” to address immigration:
“To respect the sovereign right of the United States to enforce its laws and protect its border and its citizen.” That was the only line of his speech to draw applause from Republicans.
“To continue to expand jobs, economic growth and social opportunities so migration is no longer a necessity.”
“To develop and enforce migration laws and policy with full respect for human rights and the safety of citizens on both sides of the border and to fighting all forms of human smuggling and trafficking.”
“To adjust Mexico's migration policy to safeguard our borders under the principle of shared responsibility.”
The tall rancher and former Coca-Cola executive said that Mexico believes it will take more than enforcement to solve the “migration phenomenon,” and that a comprehensive reform would benefit both nations.
“As never before, our societies call upon their governments to achieve a better management of migration and our border,” he said. “Mexico wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
Fox said comprehensive immigration reform would help “shared security and prosperity concerns” on both sides of the border.
“We are your allies in the war on drugs and crime,” he said “We are your partners in the drive for economic prosperity. Let us work together, as neighbors and friends.”
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, later said Fox took a bold step by telling U.S. lawmakers that immigration is a shared problem that Mexico must help solve by improving its economy.
“I don't think any other president of Mexico has ever articulated that kind of message in the United States,” said Núñez, who grew up in Tijuana and San Diego. “I think it's going to be very well-received by the American people.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata, D-Oakland, said Fox delivered a strong diplomatic message that made it clear that Mexico wants to work with the United States on immigration reform.
“The stronger they are the better trading partner they will be, and the more reason there will be for people not to try to flee the country to earn a living for their families,” Perata said.
Assembly Republican leader George Plescia of La Jolla said he was disappointed that Fox didn't address the physical and emotional impacts of illegal immigration.
“I represent San Diego County,” Plescia told reporters. “It's far and away the No. 1 issue. Our roads are overrun. Our schools are overrun. Our hospitals are overrun. It's affecting the quality of life of everyone that's here legally and our taxpayers.”
Plescia's request for a private meeting with Fox and a small group of Assembly Republicans to discuss illegal immigration issues was rejected.
Fox's office said the president could not fit a meeting into his busy schedule and offered the alternative of a meeting with the Mexican ambassador to the United States, which Plescia declined.
Several dozen of the 120 legislators did not attend Fox's speech.
Sen. Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside, one of the Republicans wearing the no más buttons, said Fox should crack down on pamphlets distributed in Mexico showing how to cross the border illegally and remain in the United States illegally.
“It's a standard thing of talk and walk,” Morrow said, “and the walk has not measured up to the talk in this case.”
Fox's message of shared responsibility for illegal immigration was a change from his first address to a joint session of the California Legislature in March 2001.
In that speech, he made news by emphasizing illegal immigrants' contribution to the California economy and urging that noncitizens who are applying for legal status be allowed to pay lower in-state tuition rates at public universities.
Fox not only urged the Legislature to pass a bill, which had been vetoed the year before by then-Gov. Gray Davis, but he also made the same plea to first lady Laura Bush during a meeting later in Los Angeles.
In October 2001, Davis signed a bill, AB 540, that allows undocumented immigrants to pay lower in-state tuition, rather than higher rates paid by students from other states.
To be eligible for in-state tuition, the undocumented students must have attended a California high school for three years, have graduated from a California high school and file a declaration of intent to seek citizenship.
Yesterday, Fox was met at the Sacramento airport by Schwarzenegger and Shriver. Democratic and Republican legislative leaders greeted Fox on the West steps of the Capitol when he arrived.
Fox met privately with Núñez and members of the Latino Caucus before addressing the Legislature.
During their private meeting, Fox and the governor discussed President Bush's plan to deploy National Guard units to the border, tourism and environmental issues, according to Schwarzenegger aides. They said the governor also told Fox he would like Mexico to make the border tunnels used by immigrant-and drug-smugglers illegal and the president agreed to look into it.
The two leaders put out a joint statement saying they will work cooperatively on economic growth and border-environmental issue. Fox also invited Schwarzenegger to lead a trade delegation to Mexico.
Ed Mendel: ed.mendel@uniontrib.com |
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