Posted on 03/21/2005 8:49:09 PM PST by Conservative Firster
Mexican President Vicente Fox announced that immigration reform talks with the U.S. were set aside for the time being.
MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Vicente Fox said that talks on immigration reform with American officials have ended for now and that there won't be any new announcements on the subject when he meets with President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin this week.
''President Bush has in his hands all the information, all the instruments to convert immigration initiatives into legislation,'' Fox said last week. ``But it's up to him and the U.S. Congress to lead us into orderly, legal migration which is beneficial to all.''
Fox came to office in 2000 pledging to work for reforms that would make life less precarious for the hundreds of thousands of Mexicans who work illegally in the United States. But his hopes that Bush would be able to bring about reforms were dashed by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which refocused American attention on securing borders.
Now, with immigration reform foundering, Fox, who cannot seek reelection, is likely to leave office next year with the U.S. Congress having taken no action on proposed reforms such as a guest worker program and legalizing workers already there.
PROGRESS MADE
Still, Fox defended Mexico's economic progress in a news conference with foreign reporters here, noting that Mexico's unemployment rate was just 4.1 percent at the end of January. He also said that Mexico's per capita income had tripled since the North American Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, Canada and the United States went into effect in 1994.
''We're the first nation in Latin America to reduce by 30 percent the rate of extreme poverty, and the seventh largest economy in the world,'' he said.
Fox, Bush and Martin will meet at Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch Wednesday to discuss NAFTA and its progress. Fox said the three will sign an ''initiative of the Americas'' to enhance the agreement and address security and terrorism concerns that followed the September 2001 terrorist attacks.
Although U.S.-Mexico relations have been strained over migration and the Iraq war -- Mexico opposed the U.S. invasion -- Fox said ties are ''excellent'' and go beyond friendship to full partnership in fighting drugs and terror.
Fox reiterated that despite U.S. concerns al Qaeda terrorists might operate in Mexico and jump the border, his government had ''no evidence'' of any such activity.
But he said he was concerned about militia-type groups hunting and killing immigrants along the Arizona border. He said he would raise that topic with Bush.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
Fox also said that he expected to discuss ways to bring foreign investment to Mexico's oil monopoly Pemex, which was nationalized in 1938 and remains a fierce symbol of the country's independence.
''We could do better if we open Pemex to private investment -- not privatize it, but have investment for technology and know-how,'' Fox said. ``We're sitting on huge, huge deep sea oil deposits in the Gulf.''
Hey, Vicente....."POUND SAND" ya Scumbag!
I guess this means they're still negotiating exactly how many barrels of crude per day each illegal is worth.
ok..I believe him..he wouldn't lie..don't engage the national guard on our borders..the bad guys won't go that way anyway..also I believe michael jackson is not pedophile..nor that up is down..I will believe in anything once..
``We're sitting on huge, huge deep sea oil deposits in the Gulf.''
THATS OUR OIL!!!!!
So it's up to the US to provide education, jobs and health care for Mexicans. And it's up to Bush to implement it.
Just what is Fox responsible for?
"President Bush has in his hands all the information, all the instruments to convert immigration initiatives into legislation,"
So kind of the SOB to provide Bush with all these instruments. I would suggest to Bush that he roll those instruments into a nice cone shaped "instrument" and gleefully insert said instrument up Fox's posterior.
Oh yeah, Mr. Fox, it sure is "excellent"! The way I see it, YOUR country provides and enables the drugs and terrorists while ours does all the fighting!
"``But it's up to him and the U.S. Congress to lead us into orderly, legal migration which is beneficial to all.''
So it's up to the US to provide education, jobs and health care for Mexicans. And it's up to Bush to implement it.
Just what is Fox responsible for?"
He's "responsible" for his '55 Cheby with his 47 relatives inside as they approach the check-point just norte of Tijuana....
Nobody has been getting voted out of office for being soft on immigration. That's why the GOP isn't stepping up to the plate and delivering border enforcement. The voters aren't demanding it at the ballot box. It's really that simple.
Fox considers the U.S. the answer to his ecomonic problems. Instead of taking MORE Mexicans, Vincente, we ought to send back the ones we already have...NO SABBY!!!
Only if you believe the election results.
What percent of the population of Mexico has moved north of the border?
A. 1% ?
B. 5% ?
C. 10% ?
D. >10% ?
E. Como?
It is likely to be on the close order of 10%, if not more. That's an invasion!
Let's stop kidding ourselves -- Fox is smart. He gets rid
of all the undesirables to avoid making internal reforms
and at the same time the illegals send back billions to
strengthen the Mexican economy. In exchange we are faced
with bankrupt school districts, insolvent hospitals,
higher taxes for welfare and social services. California--
a bankrupt state! -- spends $450 million to incarcerate
illegals. Bush's answer? A farcical guest-worker plan
that everyone recognizes as de facto amnesty! We can all
castigate Fox 'til the cows come home but he's doing
what is in Mexico's best interest. Our problem is BUSH!
He's smart alright - smart as a fox!
I love President Bush and I support him. I voted for him twice and am thankful that he is our President yet I do NOT agree with him on the "guest worker" issue at all. I have written to him to voice my disagreement about this. It is an extremely important issue.
I shall continue to support him and I'll continue to let him, and my Senators and Reps. know that I am AGAINST a guest worker program and that I insist on tighter borders and absolute enforcement of immigration laws.
I am PRO-LEGAL immigration. I am a first generation American of LEGAL immigrants to this great country. My family followed the law when they came here as should everyone else. No excuses.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.