Posted on 03/30/2006 6:00:20 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CANCUN, Mexico - With Mexican President Vicente Fox at his side, President Bush gave Congress a long-distance push Thursday to open the United States to immigrant workers who have been sneaking across the borders to fill low-paying jobs.
"We don't want people sneaking into our country that are going to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said at the end of a private meeting with Fox, where the issue was on top of the agenda. "We want them coming in in an orderly way, which will take pressure off both our borders."
The meeting between the Mexican and U.S. leaders came on the first day of a two-day North American summit that also includes Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper, meeting with Bush for the first time since taking office two months ago with the promise of building stronger ties with Washington, said the two countries are moving past their "tension" over Iraq.
Still, he took a combative stance on their long-standing dispute over U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, saying Canada would "pursue all its legal options" if he and Bush can't work out an agreement.
But it was the immigration debate, which has dominated the U.S. Senate this week, that took center stage in talks conducted in a beachfront resort surrounded by bikini-clad spring breakers. A new immigration law could affect as many as 6 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States — about half of all those who are estimated to have sneaked in from other countries seeking new opportunities they can't find at home.
Bush is pushing for a guest worker program that would let foreigners in low-paying jobs stay temporarily, which Fox says is a good first step toward some form of legal status for all Mexican illegal immigrants.
The issue has united the two leaders, whose friendship dates back to Bush's time as Texas governor but was strained over Fox's objections to the war in Iraq. But immigration has divided Bush's Republican party, with business interests who want cheap labor battling conservatives who want a get-tough policy against illegal immigrants.
Fox suggested the issue is largely out of their hands now.
"The matter is in the Congress of the United States and that is where the decision will be made," Fox said. "It is no longer between President Bush and President Fox."
But both leaders were clearly trying to sway the debate.
"I told the president there is a legislative process that's going forward," Bush said. "And that it may look cumbersome to some, but that's how our democracy works."
Bush added, "I'm optimistic that we can get a bill done."
The summit included plenty of time to be neighborly. The three leaders dressed casually in open-collared shirts and strolled together among the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza before sitting down for more intense one-on-one meetings. Fox planned a lavish dinner for his guests.
After spending the morning sightseeing, Bush had a few hours off before the formal meetings began. He used part of the time to work up a sweat in his hotel's gym.
There was tight security despite the fun-loving atmosphere generated by college students who have flocked to Cancun for spring break. Gunboats patrolled the turquoise waters off Bush's spa resort, and fencing kept out all but hotel guests. "I'd like to make sure you work more than you play," Bush joked to reporters.
The trilateral meeting was expected to be Fox's last, since he is set to leave office this year because of term limits. Bush lauded Fox for stabilizing the Mexican economy and improving the net worth of his people.
"That's important for the American economy as well," Bush said. "The more net worth there is in Mexico, the more likely it is the Mexican may be wanting to buy a U.S. product. And vice versa, by the way."
In his meeting with Harper, Bush sought to make the newly elected leader look good at home, making it a point to stress how hard the Canadian leader had pressed him on the softwood lumber issue. Harper "made an emphatic case," Bush said.
"I appreciate his steely resolve to get something done," the president said. "I appreciate your pushing."
But Bush didn't give Harper much of substance, saying only that "my intent is to negotiate in good faith and a timely fashion to resolve this issue."
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You're so right, but this country is breaking FAST!
"He's made a solid contribution.
"
So did Timmy McVeigh, a bronze star recipient. Criminal acts are criminal acts.
Seems that way. I'm just glad I don't live down near Mexico.
Well, I think a "brain fart" is just a little short of a POTUS who is an "arrogant psychopath who deems himself King, Lord, and Master" ; )
"Mexico has no middle class"
And soon the U.S. will have no middle class either.
That is the whole point of letting the illegals come into this country.
To destroy the middle class.
But many won't get it until it is too late (or, its already too late).
Would the following be better: "do jobs that Americans won't do for that wage"?
There are statute of limitations on some criminal acts, sir.
Start learning, no not Mexican, not Arabic, but French! That's the situation there. Change c'est impossible. Theodore Darlymple has an essay on the situation there at City-Journal.com (I think he lives in France.)
We are no longer a vast unpopulated country. There are 300 million people here and then numbers are increasing by a huge amount yearly. We are getting way too many people in this country. Before long we will be another India or China. We really will.
There is in my state. So, is it okay with you if we evict the illegal aliens?
Sadly, it's the federal government's job, Bush's in particular. From the beginning he put out an informal welcome mat and now we are suffering an infusion of inchoate socialism and Cesar Chavez radicalism of unprecedented magnitiude.
This will not save the country. It will destroy it, rip it from stem to stern.
Makes sense.
With your help, from what we understand.
""do jobs that Americans won't do for that wage"?"
Sure, but wasn't that the same argument used to keep slavery intact, that business would suffer?
There's quite a leap from 300 million to 1 BILLION, my friend. Let me guess: you have no problem with 40 million abortions are population control either?
Agreed the best thing he did but it wasn't enough..
I hear his father gave the neutron bomb plans to China years ago. How weird is that.
I guess when we all have the worst, most destructive weapons we all will not use them. Hmmm?
but will that happen? this is the problem I have with the republican proponents of this - they never explain exactly how its going to work. sure, it would be better to "convert" these folks to be guest workers. but to do that - you have to first crack down hard on the US employers, they must be forced to hire from the guest worker pool, with tax payer IDs, etc. then, the US government has to do its job to conduct these background checks and actually operate a functioning guest worker program.
are those things going to happen?
you are right, we can't deport 12 million people at the point of a gun. but the correct incentives and properly administered programs, including the wall, need to be put in place to essentially cause them to "deport themselves" - and return as guest workers.
"There are statute of limitations on some criminal acts, sir."
Sure, but he is still here and still a criminal. If he has a job he is still committing the act. If he isn't paying proper taxes he is still committing criminal acts. If he ain;t legit he is still a criminal.
The president has done a better job on the borders than his predecessors. His current plan starts out with the NUMBER ONE item border control. The media obsesses over items down as 3 or 4, which are fairly strict hoops for those already present to jump through.
The red meat crowd is falling for it, or being pushed by the FR stealth Democrat activists. Bush is doing a super job on this. What people are not realizing is that with solidly tight borders, as he proposes as number 1, then those present can't go home. When their mother dies, and they go to the funeral, they can't return.
The order of Bush's items in his plan very quietly do almost all of what is needed.
See other comments on the scarcity of working age Americans. The US has to have immigrants. It's not "Illegals do the work Americans won't." That's false. The correct phrasing is "Carefully documented immigrants will do the work that needs doing and there are no Americans of working age available to do it."
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