Bush Backs Off Fingerprinting Mexicans

My Way news via Drudgereport.com ^ | 3-7-04 | Jennifer Loven

[nonliberal]

Bush Backs Off Fingerprinting Mexicans
Mar 7, 2:18 AM (ET)

By JENNIFER LOVEN

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush gave Mexican President Vicente Fox a gift to take home on Saturday: his pledge to exempt certain frequent Mexican visitors from onerous new security checks at the U.S. border.

The visit by Fox to Bush's Central Texas ranch, held a year and a half after it was originally scheduled, was designed to lay past disputes to rest. But with Bush eager to boost his standing in the U.S. Hispanic community, the nation's fastest-growing voting bloc, American politics were never far from the agenda.

Bush used the leaders' joint appearance before Mexican and American reporters to make clear how he sees the November election, in which he almost certainly will face Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. "The question is who brings forth the best pro-growth policies ... who (is) best to lead this country in the war on terror," Bush said.

Over intimate meals, relaxed discussions and an early-morning drive through wintertime-lush canyons to some of Bush's favorite spots on his 1,600-acre property, Bush and Fox aimed to look forward, not back.

The warm ties that characterized the two leaders' relationship three years ago had soured after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Bush shelved work on a migration accord coveted by Mexico; Fox abruptly backed out of a planned visit to Bush's ranch in August 2002 over a death-penalty dispute and refused to back Bush at the United Nations on an Iraq war.

On Saturday, side-by-side in casual clothes and the warm March sun, horses and cows grazing placidly in a meadow behind them, the two men sought to project an air of cooperation on immigration, trade, Haiti and anti-terrorism measures. Neither publicly mentioned other divisive matters - such as the water Mexico owes the United States or a continued disagreement over Mexicans on death row in the United States - that still divide the North American neighbors.

"Mexico and the United States are more than neighbors," Bush said Saturday, sprinkling Spanish throughout his remarks. "We are partners in building a safer, more democratic and more prosperous hemisphere."

Still, there was very little of the effusive mutual admiration that usually features prominently in Bush's appearances with world leaders.

Though immigration issues were foremost on Fox's mind, he left Texas with some new assurances but no ironclad agreements.

Under the US-VISIT program, already in use at many airports and seaports, visitors from certain countries must be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the United States. When the system is expanded later this year to the busiest land entry points as well, it would ensnare the many Mexicans who regularly travel back and forth with so-called border-crossing cards.

Fox said the fingerprinting and photograph requirement now won't apply for border-crossing card holders, celebrating "the news that was confirmed today with regard to visitors to the U.S. from Mexico."

Fox also applauded work by the two leaders to advance a proposal Bush offered in January to give temporary visas to illegal immigrants, most from Mexico, already working in the United States.

But Bush was pessimistic about the prospects for congressional passage of his temporary worker proposal - saying "there's no telling what's going to happen in an election year." Also, he said little about the border-crossing issue while his aides signaled it is far from settled.

Bush told Fox in their Saturday morning meeting that he is committed to the exemption, though details still need to be worked out, White House spokesman Sean McCormack said. However, McCormack wouldn't confirm that the remaining issues were merely technical, saying the matter is extraordinarily complex, and could not offer a timetable for a final agreement.

On Friday, the White House said it was strongly considering a proposal under which the multi-use visas that those frequent Mexican travelers have could be used in place of the US-VISIT checks at the border checks. The documents already require background checks, fingerprinting and photographs.

"We will work to ensure a system of safe and orderly migration," Bush said. "We're making progress."

"President Bush has invited Vicente Fox back to the ranch in Crawford. An immigration proposal long-awaited by Latinos has been laid on the table. It must be an election year," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat who has been talked about as a possible Kerry running mate.

Bush defended his handling of the economy against Kerry's attacks and a new report that showed U.S. payrolls increased by only 21,000 jobs last month, about 100,000 fewer than expected. Without mentioning Kerry by name, Bush implied the Massachusetts senator would raise taxes and derail the economic improvements Bush has overseen.

"Raising taxes will make it harder for people to find work," the president told reporters.

Kerry, who said while campaigning only a couple hundred miles away in Houston on Saturday that Bush has left the nation in economic ruin, has called for repealing the portions of Bush's tax cut that went to wealthy taxpayers. Bush characterizes that as a tax increase.

"George Bush is a walking contradiction and a walking barrel of broken promises," Kerry said.

The president also didn't shrink from his campaign's use of images from the Sept. 11 attacks in his first round of campaign ads. Some victims' families have said the pictures' use for political gain is offensive.

"How this administration handled that day as well as the war on terror is worthy of discussion," he said.

[nonliberal]

I am shocked-SHOCKED!!-that Bush capitulated on this.

[azhenfud]

We'd best face it now. We have no immigration control with Mexico and have not one politician with the testicular fortitude to just say no and who'll enforce our present policy. Our borders are a joke and the TSA is The Sham of America.

[Tacis]

From tomorrow on, every illegal invading Mexican criminal alien arrested for any crime anywhere in America, will in his best Johnny-the-Dunce, No-Spica-De-Ingles English will point out to the arresting officer that Presidente Fox said no gringo finger prints. He won't know that hauling dope, guns, large quantities of cash, other illegal criminals or having 15 different sets of ID was not OK in gringo-land but he will know that Fox said "No prints."

Fox must have something really big on W. Nothing else explains such criminal stupidity.

[Dr. Marten]

Shocked? C'mon, you had to see it coming from a mile away.

[hedgetrimmer]

Same for the northern border.


Prime Minister Paul Martin and U.S. President George W. Bush

Martin was able to emerge from his first meeting with Bush in January with what diplomats called two "deliverables." The U.S. president reversed himself and allowed Canada to bid on Iraqi reconstruction contracts, and he promised not to deport Canadians to third countries without prior consultation with Ottawa.

Those were concessions Bush made in Mexico, during a side meeting arranged at the Summit of the Americas, to a new prime minister who has made Canada-U.S. relations a priority.

[CWOJackson]

LOL!

This again.

Hey folks, despite what the headline says it's a little misleading. The only thing the President has done is waive the requirement to fingerprint and photograph a Mexican who arrives in the U.S. with the new business VISA...which requires them to have already been fingerprinted, photographed and have a background screening.

This eliminates not only the redundancy, making the process more efficient, but allows us to divert otherwise wasted time and money back toward the illegal problem. All this is is common sense and efficiency.

[nopardons]

Yeah,but the unappeaseables want the president to personally round up the illegals and shoot them or ship them all off to Siberia.

[CWOJackson]

Hey, how about coal mines on the Yukon River? We could start our own gulags AND help the energy situation.

[Righty1]

He is hispandering yet again. The problem is that these people would much rather vote for Juan and Evita i.e. JFingK and hitlery. Fox is such a total stupid smuck that i can't believe that GW just doesn't unload on the limp wristed greasy jerk.

[Digger]

Ah the "Two-Party Cartel". This president truly is a puppet to the corps & kerry to the commies. And all of us here at FR argue between these two factions that do not have our intersts at heart. Let's get real here. We can do better than having either of these two running the country. Probably 80% plus are against this. Truly I wished I had never heard the term, compassionate conservative. The commies got a 11 Billion extra for the NEA, prevented conservative judges in high levels, a 580 Billion prescription rip-off. The conservatives got a 300 tax cut open borders & some hollow words. Makes ya want to jump up on election day & throw your ballot in the trash.

[kellynla]

http://michnews.com/artman/publish/printer_1879.shtml

[Tamzee]

All this is is common sense and efficiency.

Yep... but why let FACTS get in the way of a good rant?

[CWOJackson]

LOL! Exactly.

Damn President Bush for making the system more efficient and putting our resources to their best use!

[Pa' fuera]

Hey folks, despite what the headline says it's a little misleading. The only thing the President has done is waive the requirement to fingerprint and photograph a Mexican who arrives in the U.S. with the new business VISA...which requires them to have already been fingerprinted, photographed and have a background screening.

You're misleading with this statement. This is for Border Crossing Cards, not for business visas. Border Crossing Cards are not new, and there are 10 million of them out there. Also, the background screening you speak of is of little worth, since the state department has no good way of checking mexican criminal history.

[dougherty]

I am shocked-SHOCKED!!-that Bush capitulated on this.

How true. Bush has been such a staunch defender of the borders, this is truly unbelievable.

Not! Jorge Bush may as well be Fox's vice president as he loves following orders from the man.

[CWOJackson]

Sorry dude, but this is all about the new laser imprinted short stay Visa. I know, that just doesn't fit in with your desire to make this somehoe look like some hugh cop out by the President...disappointing isn't it.

[Missouri]

Ping.

[Pa' fuera]

That's what a border crossing card is - a short stay visa within a limited area of the United States. It is one of the most effective ways for Mexicans to enter the US legally and become illegal overstayers - and the Bush administration knows this but won't do anything about it.

[CWOJackson]

LOL! Keep on trying there sparky. Unfortunately the facts have been widely reported and linked so many times on these threads that it's starting to get hilarious.

But hey, don't allow minor things like facts to distract you from your Jorge Bush ranting.

[Pa' fuera]

Unfortunately the facts have been widely reported and linked so many times on these threads that it's starting to get hilarious.

so what are you saying, that this waiver doesn't apply to Border Crossing Cards? If that's what you're saying, I'm dying for you to show me where it was reported because that would be fantastic news.