K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met yesterday with Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy in Mexicali.Posted on 09/24/2005 5:10:22 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
September 24, 2005
K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met yesterday with Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy in Mexicali. |
Schwarzenegger and Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy discussed cross-border cooperation on transportation, trade, education, environmental issues and immigration during a two-hour private meeting in the state government headquarters here.
The two issued a joint statement with immigration couched in delicate diplomatic language:
"Undocumented immigration is perhaps one of the most challenging and controversial issues that we face, but that does not mean that workable solutions cannot be found. Our dialogue with respect to this issue must be constructive and based on mutual respect."
Minutes after the statement was read at a joint news conference in the Baja California capital, Schwarzenegger was peppered with questions from reporters about controversial statements that many in Mexico have taken offense at, particularly on the Minutemen border watchers and driver licenses for illegal immigrants.
The Republican governor defended his support of the efforts of the Minuteman as a self-appointed citizen adjunct to an understaffed Border Patrol, but does not want them to be armed or harass border crossers.
"Obviously, we do not have enough Border Patrol, so that is the problem why the Minutemen came about in the first place," Schwarzenegger said. "I also made it clear that I never believed in armed Minutemen. No one ought to be armed. No one ought to harass anybody.
"And everyone ought to remember always the human rights issues. It's very important that even though you see someone crossing illegally, they ought to be treated with human rights and with dignity."
Schwarzenegger also reiterated that he will not sign SB 60, which would allow the issuance of a driving certificate – not an official California driver license that can be used for identification – to people who are not in the country legally. He said he favors a universal license, but wants to wait for the federal government to develop uniform criteria for all 50 states.
"I think that we're all trying to achieve kind of the same goal here and we just have to be patient and move the agenda forward slowly," Schwarzenegger said.
Though immigration dominated the news conference, the two governors spent an hour talking about another sensitive border topic – a U.S. plan to conserve water by lining a 23-mile stretch of the All-American Canal, which carries Colorado River water to the Imperial Valley.
The project has long been the subject of protests in Mexico, as Mexicali farmers have for decades watered their fields from wells fed by the canal's seepage. Up to now, only the federal governments have conducted negotiations on the canal's lining, but the two governors agreed that their staffs would work with a Mexicali economic development group to seek a solution.
"We've got to find a way where we can help Mexico and at the same time accomplish our goals," Schwarzenegger said.
Schwarzenegger came into office after the canal lining deal was put together, but his administration remains firmly behind the project. His 2005-06 budget sets aside $59 million to assist in the concrete lining of the All-American and Coachella canals.
The lining project is part of a broader deal to reduce demand on the Colorado River.
It was only Schwarzenegger's second visit to Mexico since he became governor after the October 2003 recall election. He paid a brief visit to a Border Governors Conference in Torreon, Coahuila, in July.
Mexico is California's largest trading partner and California is home to more Mexican-born residents than any other state.
Schwarzenegger's outspoken stance on illegal immigration has generated widespread criticism in Mexico, where initial reaction to his victory was greeted with dismay. Mexican media were quick to point to his support of Proposition 187, the initiative supported by former Gov. Pete Wilson to deny government services to illegal immigrants in California.
But yesterday, Schwarzenegger and Elorduy spoke of their friendship and willingness to work together to strengthen cross-border ties. Smiling broadly, Schwarzenegger recalled his first visit to Mexico, for the Mr. International bodybuilding championship in Tijuana in 1968. He pointed to the success of the four movies he filmed in Mexico. "I always said that Mexico brought me good luck," he said.
Together with Elorduy, he spent almost half an hour with students and graduates from joint degree programs in international business and public administration involving universities on both sides of the border.
The meeting came almost two years after Schwarzenegger took office. Elorduy, a member of Mexico's National Action Party who speaks fluent English and was born in Calexico, has struggled since taking office in 2001 to get the attention of his northern counterparts, first Gray Davis and then Schwarzenegger.
Analysts say such encounters require a balancing act by officials from both sides of the border who may have strong feelings about emotional social issues but also want to make progress on common economic goals.
"There are two levels in dialogue," said Jeffrey Davidow, president of the Institute of the Americas at the University of California, San Diego. "One is public dialogue where sometimes on both sides of the border very emotional issues are staked out, polemical things are said. Then there are the day-to-day let's-work-together-and-get-things-done kind of contact."
Schwarzenegger also alluded to the protests Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, a Los Angeles Democrat, encountered in Mexico City last month over his advocacy of declaring a state of emergency at the border.
"I don't know what the point of it is at this point, because we are getting movement from Washington to bring more Border Patrol to our borders," Schwarzenegger said.
Schwarzenegger sought to put a compassionate face on his views on immigration by saying that the vast majority of illegal immigrants in California are working and contributing to the economy.
Notwithstanding his one-time support for Proposition 187, he emphasized that all people in California are entitled to essential government services regardless of their immigration status.
"We have equal rights for everybody, as you know," he said. "Everyone has the right to use our emergency rooms and to get medical care. Everyone has the right to have education."
Schwarzenegger noted that he signed AB 22, which imposes stiff civil and criminal penalties on persons convicted of smuggling people across the border.
"I just signed a bill the other day to make it a felony of human trafficking," he said. "So if you get busted with that, you go to jail for a long time."
And he pointed out that he signed legislation long sought by the United Farm Workers to guarantee farm laborers protection from the heat.
Schwarzenegger said he regards recent indication that the Bush administration intends to push aggressively for congressional approval of a guest-worker program as a hopeful sign.
"I think I'm very much encouraged about that because we must resolve the issue," he said. "I think it's wrong for the federal government to live in denial and to pretend that it's not existing."
Schwarzenegger was joined in Mexico by three of his Cabinet secretaries – Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary Sunne Wright McPeak, Director of Homeland Security Matthew Bettenhausen and Education Secretary Alan Bersin – who met with their counterparts in the Baja California government.
Also, the part here about "mutual respect" . .. what mutual respect are the Mexicans talking about?
Are millions of Californians invading Mexico?
================================
"Undocumented immigration is perhaps one of the most challenging and controversial issues that we face, but that does not mean that workable solutions cannot be found. Our dialogue with respect to this issue must be constructive and based on mutual respect."
Much to their disappointment, he didn't slam or bastardize the Minuteman Project to the Mexican government . .
=====================================
"Obviously, we do not have enough Border Patrol, so that is the problem why the Minutemen came about in the first place," Schwarzenegger said. "I also made it clear that I never believed in armed Minutemen. No one ought to be armed. No one ought to harass anybody.
===============================
However, he did buckle on getting tough on illegal alien immigration from Mexico when he had the chance to make a stand against holding open the door for mass free social services for illegal aliens.
By declaring in Mexico that illegal aliens have guaranteed rights to tax-proviced social services, this basically seals the open border.
For example, taking the stand on free education for illegal aliens essentially guarantees the next logical progression from there - employment and residency.
Any questions?
The Illegal Alien Welfare State remains intact and the Underground Economy rules the day . .
=======================================
Notwithstanding his one-time support for Proposition 187, he emphasized that all people in California are entitled to essential government services regardless of their immigration status."We have equal rights for everybody, as you know," he said. "Everyone has the right to use our emergency rooms and to get medical care. Everyone has the right to have education."
bump-do you ever sleep?? LOL keep up the good work ..
It remains to be seen what effects Katrina and Rita will have on bringing the illegal immigration crisis to the surface in Washington.
I predict even more tension in the areas affected due to illegals coming into them for a quick buck.
"We have equal rights for everybody, as you know," he said. "Everyone has the right to use our emergency rooms and to get medical care. Everyone has the right to have education."
Ugh. Then YOU pay for it, Arnold.
I think Arnold was misquoted in the article. Try this on for size.
"Undocumented immigration Criminal activity is perhaps one of the most challenging and controversial issues that we face, but that does not mean that workable solutions cannot be found. Our dialogue with respect to this issue must be constructive and based on mutual respect."
"And everyone ought to remember always the human rights issues. It's very important that even though you see someone crossing illegally breaking the law, they ought to be treated with human rights and with dignity."
"I don't think that we're all trying to achieve kind of the same goal here and we just have to be patient and move the agenda forward slowly."
"We do not have equal rights for everybody, as you know. Everyone illegal alien has the right to use our emergency rooms and to get medical care. Everyone illegal alien has the right to have education and Americans have the obligation to pay for it."
The problem is, by California law they DO HAVE guaranteed rights to these services and there's nothing new about that.
JUst put them on a bus and send them home
Tension ended.
Oh, and close the borders for good.
True, but announcing it like that in Mexico just seems like adding insult to injury, don't you think? I can't understand him doing that.
As long as it's the law in CA, it's only a statement of fact.
You're right. It's a statement of fact.
And this article is cherry picking Arnold's statements.
He's always promoted, and exemplified, legal immigration.
So FRIGGIN' what! Mexicans want to invite themselves into our country, then complain, when we want to control our property. Who cares what they say?
Well, that's just hunky dory that he's cozyin up to that big piece of Mexico!
Now when's he gonna come up here and cozy up to the big piece of Cauleeforneea he created with his economic terminator pen called "The Sierra-Nevada CONservancy" for GANG-GREEN?
He sure showed the Californa Farm Bureau Federation and the California Grange no respect whatsoever with that act, after the Farm Bureau was one of his first and strongest endorsers!!! But he makes wonderful speeches at CONventions about what a Republican should be... Phhhhhht!!!
Arnold has become Bush's puppet.
"But he makes wonderful speeches at CONventions about what a Republican should be... Phhhhhht!!!"=======================================
Republican: GOP Revolution Dying on Washington D.C. Vine
* * *
History will record: "They did it to themselves . ." * * *
Scratch Another Republican off the 2008 list
* * *
"Arnold has become Bush's puppet."=========================
As anyone who has been following Arnold since the Recall knows, he is a RINO. He will be of no help whatsover on the illegal alien problem. In fact, we'll be very fortunate if he doesn't somehow make it worse.
Not after Prop 187 was passed. Only after Gray Davis wouldn't play straight with Prop 187 did the situation REVERT to this in the abscence of a viable ruling by direct democracy vote of the majority of CA legislators... The voters of CA!!!
Pete Wilson knew this! Gray Davis knew this and so does Schwartzie because Wilson is one of his biggest coaches!!!
Republicans... again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!!! What a pathetic shame...
Gray Davis dropped the appeal. So how does this become Wilson-coaching-Schwartzie-snatching-defeat?
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.
