Mexican president to visit Arizona to press for trade, immigration-law reform

Arizona Star ^ | October 25, 2003 | Howard Fischer

[sarcasm]

PHOENIX — The visit by Mexican President Vicente Fox to Arizona next month will bring the fight over illegal immigration to the center of the stage.

But that's exactly what Fox does not want to do, according to Ruben Beltran, the Mexican consul in Arizona.

Beltran on Friday unveiled details of the president's Nov. 4 visit, including a meeting with Gov. Janet Napolitano, a conversation with about 300 business leaders and an address to a gathering at the Phoenix Civic Plaza to those who have tickets.

One of those who immediately went to get a ticket Friday is Rusty Childress, one of the leaders of the initiative drive to deprive those not here legally the right to get government services.

Childress does not expect to get any time with Fox or even with Gov. Janet Napolitano. But he said he intends to listen as Fox promotes his agenda here — and to make a public issue of that agenda.

Beltran said Fox wants to push for greater business ties between the two countries. He said that Mexico is the state's largest trading partner. And Mexico realizes the importance of Arizona which is that country's fourth largest trade partner after California, Texas and Michigan.

Fox also will continue discussions he started when Napolitano visited Mexico in August and the two talked about issues of migration. The governor, following that visit, said she hopes to use her influence to have Arizona become a pilot project for a guest worker program.

And Beltran said Fox is very interested in federal legislation that would let those who entered this country illegally gain legal status.

Childress said it's probably smart for Fox to come here to push a guest-worker program and some sort of amnesty.

"The more he can ship poverty into the United States, the more money he's got over there for his people pouring into his economy, not ours," he said.

According to Childress, the money sent back to Mexico by nationals working here is among the biggest sources of revenue for that country, following oil and exports. The Pew Hispanic Center pegs that figure at more than $9 billion a year.

"It behooves him to come over here and work with our governor and our congressional leaders and try to get more people over here and try to get them legalized," he said.

Childress said Fox is interested only in his "mass immigration" plan.

Beltran said Fox is not interested in getting into a discussion of whether Mexican nationals who are not here legally should be able to get services from the state.

"It is a first-hand opportunity for the president to convey to the business leaders what his administration is doing to further and to enhance the economic environment in Mexico," said Beltran.

As to the event at Phoenix Civic Plaza, Beltran said Fox wants to "enhance ... his vision of what should happen in terms of migratory reform that maybe would take place in the future."

Fox also will visit Santa Fe, N.M., and Austin, Texas, during his three-day visit to the United States.

[putupon]

[ex-Texan]

We should send a special FR contingent down to greet him with 'NO Azatlan!' Posters and 'Illegals Go Home!' Posters held by hundreds of Freepers.

[Zipporah]

"According to Childress, the money sent back to Mexico by nationals working here is among the biggest sources of revenue for that country, following oil and exports. The Pew Hispanic Center pegs that figure at more than $9 billion a year.

" There it is.. the truth of why Fox et al created the duel citizenship for Mexicans and is encouraging illegals. This MUST stop.. it is said that illegals will take jobs Americans won't take.. that is bull. It is treasonous for McCain etc to propose amnesty for these 'criminals'.

[taxed2death]

BE QUIET!!!!

El Presedente' Jorge Boooooosh will have none of your nationalistic wimpering!

[WilliamofCarmichael]

We all know it's "cheap labor" and votes that make both Republicans and Democrats welcome the millions and millions of ILLEGAL aliens here and more millions on the way. Plus money from ILLEGAL alien supporters I am sure helps.

Beyond that does anyone have any idea why both Republicans and Democrats totally ignore public opinion polls showing a majority of Americans are very strongly against ILLEGAL immigration? Why do they ignore us? Why they do not take us seriuosly? Why they allow these insults to our sovereignty? Why they have no respoect for the very laws they make?

Emails and letters -- even direct contact -- does no good. My own experience talking to my Congressman's local staff proved that I am the bad guy for complaining. The Congressman is a Republican.

About twelve years ago a group of senior citizens chased Congressman Dan Rostenkowski chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee through the streets of Chicago. The seniors were angry about a bill recently passed that raised Medicare costs. Rostenkowski barely made it to his taxpayer-funded limo. I still remember the video of seniors beating on the limo. News reports at the time said the incident scared the hell out of the Congress. The bill was rescinded.

I don't know why I keep remembering that incident. There's also the story of the two-by-four and the mule. . . .

[DumpsterDiver]

Beyond that does anyone have any idea why both Republicans and Democrats totally ignore public opinion polls showing a majority of Americans are very strongly against ILLEGAL immigration? Why do they ignore us? Why they do not take us seriuosly? Why they allow these insults to our sovereignty? Why they have no respoect for the very laws they make?

The only reasons I can think of would end up sounding like I'm certifiably insane. Is it globalism, come hell or high water? A one world government in the making? Is it the result of PC lunacy run amok with politicians mindlessly jumping on the bandwagon known as duhversity? I have no answers.

[FITZ]

to enhance the economic environment in Mexico

Obviously that's not what illegal immigration or NAFTA are doing --- so we shouldn't be fooled by that. If the economy was being enhanced in Mexico, we would not see hundreds of people dying trying to get out. They'd be optimistic about staying in Mexico. What Fox is doing is keeping the economy very bad in Mexico for most Mexicans just so they will give up home and leave.

[FITZ]

I think our government always makes the mistake of siding with the most corrupt elites in Mexico because we believe keeping them in power provides stability. We're keeping Mexico stable but only by letting that government ship us over a million of it's citizens a year. Well ---- and of course keeping the most corrupt elites in power guarantees they can easily be bought off --- a few people in Mexico did get quite rich from the maquilas and NAFTA even though it's destroyed the majority of the people over there.

[junta]

That's the way it always is, the human game of monopoly continues.

[DumpsterDiver]

It'd be easier to just declare war on that damn country and be done with it.

I wonder how many U.S. govt officials are on the payroll of the drug cartels?

[FITZ]

And meanwhile, Mexico isn't becoming more prosperous or middle class --- it's making a rather sharp turn to the left. Fox will try to pull off massive voter fraud by getting Mexican elections held in the USA where of course he has a lot of political pull and hopes to get his wife of 2 years into power when his reign is over. Lopez Obrador is moving up ---I don't know if he's better or worse. There are no clean Mexican politicians.

http://charleston.net/stories/070503/wor_05mexico.shtml

Mexico City mayor revives policies of past

Lopez Obrador very popular and a rising political star

[DumpsterDiver]

It looks like things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, and that's assuming that things ever will get better. It's too bad this country won't publicly denounce Mexico and its policies. (The Pope did on his last visit to Mexico.)

[norton]

For one thing Republicans as a group are scared out of their minds that someone will call them heartless, racist, nationalist, or any of the standard names that the left ALREADY calls them.

It's their version of "when did you stop beating your wife?" and the mere suggestion is enough to drive them under the table.

GWB, for his part, needs to be reminded that he is no longer a local (Texas) politician but a national politician and that invasion under the guise of 'migration' is not good for America. (Note here that large parts of Texas were lost before his tour began, he did not create the problem but he did exploit it & seems not to have grown away from that tactic)

[norton]

From post number 7: "There's also the story of the two-by-four and the mule. . . ."

That two by four would best be administered from places well above the current forward edge of battle (outside the south-west) just in order to underline the national element rather than our selfish local interest in not being further innundated.