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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On the Net:
U.S. Trade Representative: http://www.ustr.gov
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
Worth repeating.
Please cite the SCOTUS case law that has held the 14th Amendment does not grant automatic citizenship to those born in the U.S.
Maybe you'll be replaced by an illegal alien FReeper willing to do the posting that you won't do.
Bush has been a masterful president in many respects. This isn't one of them. His position on illegal aliens and border control, like the Harriet Miers debacle, is dumb, dumb, dumb.
I agree that American culture is the best. However, lots of Hispanic Americans appreciate the Mexican culture, and celebrate it regularly. So it's not true that Mexican culture is what you say it is.
It's a different culture, just as the Irish culture was different when they came over.
No, it is your mealy mouthed treason which keeps us from adopting reasonable reforms. Reasonable to you is to allow as many in the country as possible. Reasonable in fact is to deport every single one. To build whatever it takes to stop this invasion, which they admit is to take over this nation.
That's fine - if you REALLY think a momentary "brain fart" is the equivalent of a POTUS alleged to be an "arrogant psychopath who deems himself King, Lord, and Master", it pointless debating you too.
yep.....
Maybe. And, I just hope you feel the same way about Miers the first time Alito votes the wrong way.
"Modern" form of slavery is NOT what you said, sir.
Did you vote for him twice?
All one can do is try to expose them.
I have a friend who fell in love with an illegal who had been here over 20 years and never paid taxes. He was a construction worker in Florida working 1099's. Should he be given slack also?
I suspect you are in the minority among those bashing Bush right now.
I've read at least three posts, today, that are calling for Bush's impeachment.
FR is drifting to the far-right, towards protectionism and isolationism.
Buchananism.
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