CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
Posted on 10/25/2003 2:05:34 PM PDT by Zipporah
By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
PHOENIX - A visit by Mexican President Vicente Fox to Arizona next month will bring the fight over illegal immigration to center stage.
But that's exactly what Fox does not want to do, according to Mexico's Consul General for Arizona Ruben Beltran.
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 that requires tickets.
One who immediately went to get a ticket Friday was Rusty Childress, one of the leaders of an initiative drive to deprive those not here legally the right to get government services.
Childress said he does not expect to get any time with Fox or even with Napolitano. But 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 noted that Mexico is the state's largest trading partner. And he said Mexico realizes Arizona's importance as that country's fourth-largest trade partner after California, Texas and Michigan.
Fox will continue discussions begun when Napolitano visited Mexico in August and the two talked about migration issues. Afterward, the governor said she hoped to use her influence to have Arizona as a pilot project for a guest worker program.
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 for 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.
Childress says 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," Childress said. He 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 here illegally should get services from the state.
"It is a firsthand 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," Beltran said.
Fox also will visit Santa Fe, N.M., and Austin, Texas, during his three-day visit to the United States.
While the illegals bankrupt us, Mexico's economy is booming with American $$'s.
I wish Fox would just go away for a while. Maybe open a few Wal-marts in Mexico.
Too bad this guy isn't the governor.
If Napolitano had a brain she would tell Vicente that American taxpayers deeply resent the fact that they are saddled with the medical bills of his outcasts, and if he wants any kind of "guest worker" deal, the medical costs and social services costs will be paid by Mexico, not us. Then our silent President should tell Fox the same thing, but only after he deports several million who have already snuck over the border. American taxpayers have had enough of this crap.
It would be safe to say that Ms. Napolean (Napolitano) doesn't represent the taxpayers of Arizona, only the moochers.
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