Posted on 12/03/2005 4:44:55 PM PST by DumpsterDiver
SALT LAKE CITY – Mexico's ambassador to the United States pressed for a political solution for the U.S. immigration problem in a visit Friday with Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.
The diplomat, Carlos de Icaza, endorsed a guest worker program for his countrymen and a fair resolution for the millions of undocumented workers already in the United States.
"Building walls and fences is not the way to solve problems among neighbors," said de Icaza, whose two-day visit ended with a demonstration by the Utah Minuteman Project outside the Utah Capitol.
The immigration opponents called for tougher border security and sanctions against U.S. employers who hire undocumented workers, and to de Icaza they evoked the "vigilante groups" adding enforcement to the U.S.-Mexico border.
"There is no place, managing immigration flows between neighbors, for people to pretend to take the law into their own hands," said de Icaza.
Huntsman, who supports a guest worker program, had no public comment after the meeting, but during it he told the envoy he supported stronger economic and cultural links and an education exchange between Mexico and Utah. Huntsman invited reporters and cameras into his ceremonial office at the outset.
The meeting was expected to pave the way for a visit to Utah by Mexico's president, Vicente Fox, sometime next year, de Icaza said. Huntsman visited Fox in July.
The ambassador emphasized the economic ties between Mexico and Utah, and said Mexico's economy was improving, though not enough to satisfy his countrymen, who are drawn to a U.S. economy that is 15 times larger and acts like "a big magnet," de Icaza said.
Utah exports $95 million worth of goods a year to Mexico, mostly minerals, ores and chemicals, while Mexico sells $382 million worth of goods to Utah, his advisers said.
Utah companies can take advantage of more opportunities for trade, especially those in the software and information technology sector, de Icaza said.
Outside on the Capitol plaza, a few dozen placard-waving demonstrators weren't impressed. They said foreigners who sneak into this country were breaking the law, and that de Icaza was avoiding the subject.
Jerry Owens, of Midway, Utah, said the United States needs to build a fence along the Mexican border.
"My children are going to be competing with illegal aliens for jobs," said Eli Cawley of Salt Lake City.
"Neighbors?" How many of you out there would enter your neighbors homes without their permission?
¿Quisiera ayudarle fuera lo hizo viene de qué manera él adentro?
I would like to help him out, which way did he come in?
BWAHAAAAAAA!!!
Ok-Ok I *know* who you really are, sb.
You're "The Unknown Comic", aren'tcha.
Remember the guy who wore saddle shoes & a paper bag over his head? {g}
No.
...you'll never read something like that in the MSM. ;^)
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