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 News from Around the Americas | February 2008 
Mexico President Calderon Meets with LA Mayor Villaraigosa
 Greg Risling - The Fresno Bee
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| | Mexico's President Felipe Calderon (R) and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa discuss trade opportunities in downtown Los Angeles February 14, 2008. (Reuters/Armando Arorizo) | | |
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined Mexico's president Thursday in pushing for closer economic ties between the two neighbors, as President Felipe Calderon wrapped up a four-day tour designed to counter anti-immigration sentiments.
"There is a need to build bridges, not walls," Villaraigosa said after an hour-long meeting with Calderon that produced an agreement to bring more Mexican goods into the Port of Los Angeles. In most cases, Mexican products are brought by truck or train.
Calderon, making his first trip to the United States since winning a hotly contested election in 2006, made no contact with President Bush or candidates of either political party. But he emerged from meetings all week - many with Mexican nationals and immigrant rights groups - touting the benefits of Mexican workers to the U.S. economy.
"Our economies complement each other like the left shoe and the right shoe," Calderon said Wednesday night. "The American economy is capital-intensive, and the Mexican economy is labor-intensive. ..."
"There can be no economic growth without jobs, nor economic growth without investment."
But former presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo on Thursday accused Calderon of meddling in U.S. affairs, telling him he should focus on his country's problems instead of "encouraging illegal immigration."
In a letter to the Mexican Embassy, the Colorado Republican criticized Calderon for telling the California Legislature Wednesday that Mexico and the United States "will never find prosperity by closing their doors."
"Unfortunately, your recent comments indicate that Mexico will continue its policy of encouraging illegal immigration and treating the United States as little more than a dumping ground for your social and economic problems," Tancredo said, adding, "It is no secret that the purpose of your visit is to influence the American election."
Tancredo ran on a strong anti-illegal immigration platform before abandoning his long-shot campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, saying he accomplished his goal of making other Republican candidates stand tougher on the issue.
Calderon arrived Sunday with a plan to make his voice heard in major U.S. cities at a time when both Republican and Democratic candidates are carefully calibrating their positions on hot-button issues such as the border wall, deportations, guest-worker programs and driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
Calderon has 66 percent job approval according to a poll in late January, and ministering to the 11 million Mexicans living in the United States helps maintain his popularity at home.
The Mexican president also made stops in New York, Massachusetts and Chicago. |
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