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
Yes, I think he should avoid that phrase. I really think there are Americans who will do the tougher work.
Sad, really. They are going to do the Left's bidding now I guess.
Nero played the violin while Rome burned.
You're friggin' nuts!
None of these illegals is forced to stay here.
The truth is, whatever they're making here is likely three or four times more than they were paid in Mexico.
Which is why they've come in the first place.
Comparing this to slavery is pure demagoguery.
Why this issue?
It's a bigger picture thing.
It started a long time ago with FRee trade and eliminating the need for borders, tariffs, etc and instilling a spirit of cooperativeness globally between nations..
It has now progressed into the final Globalist phase which is meant to strip mostly free nations of their self-control and sovereignty and ability to compete fairly on an open playing field.
The end goal is complete domination of all trade and financial markets globally by a few for the "betterment" of all but only on the terms of the few who are the 'ruling elite'. Presidents and Chancellors may come and go but the 'elite' reign from behind the scenes, as much out of view as possible.
Please cite the SCOTUS case law that has held the 14th Amendment does grant automatic citizenship to those born in the U.S.
While we're waiting:
"...unless the child of an ambassador or other diplomatic agent of a foreign state, or of an alien enemy in hostile occupation of the place where the child was born."U.S. v. WONG KIM ARK, 169 U.S. 649 (1898)
Response: Without a fight?
I don't know if the republicans are stupid or if they want the democrats to win.They are committing suicide over this issue.I use to like president Bush before he became an illegal alien loving idiot.
Ronald Reagan (who supported NAFTA) was an "elite"?! You could not have come from more humble roots! This is just UNBELIEVABLE!
HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU VOTE FOR HIM?
If you think that's worth repeating you must not be familiar with Marxism.
Someday, a scholar may write a book called, "The Rise and Fall of the American Empire." The Romans never realized what destroyed them before it was too late.
Mischaracterising people's opposition to an illegal invasion by people who openly state what their aims are is nothing more or less than lying.
PLYLER v. DOE, 457 U.S. 202 (1982)
The illegal aliens who are plaintiffs in these cases challenging the statute may claim the benefit of the Equal Protection Clause, which provides that no State shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Whatever his status under the immigration laws, an alien is a "person" in any ordinary sense of that term. This Court's prior cases recognizing that illegal aliens are "persons" protected by the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which Clauses do not include the phrase "within its jurisdiction," cannot be distinguished on the asserted ground that persons who have entered the country illegally are not "within the jurisdiction" of a State even if they are present within its boundaries and subject to its laws. Nor do the logic and history of the Fourteenth Amendment support such a construction. Instead, use of the phrase "within its jurisdiction" confirms the understanding that the Fourteenth Amendment's protection extends to anyone, citizen or stranger, who is subject to the laws of a State, and reaches into every corner of a State's territory.
That remains to be seen...
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