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
Pretty obvious misrepresentation, wasn't it...
The sad thing is, if our representatives were really concerned about the borders they would have already made that a priority and discussed what to do with those here already at a later time. They are looking for votes. They are pandering! You and I know the illegals are going nowhere between now and november and stopping the flow first would make more sense. THEY think we are stupid!
"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."
doesn't support the in your face headline:Bush Pushes Congress to OK Immigrants
In fact, nothing in the whole story supports the headline. I suspect this story is pure AP made up DNC bs designed to split the party.
In the quote above, the President basically says enforce the border and then document the workers coming in. I don't see anywhere where he is telling congress what to do...in fact he says that it's up to congress now to do something. Maybe I'm missing something here...
Exactly why the Democrats want the country to be flooded with low income wage earners. They will want government benefits.
I hear they're having a fire sale on those buses... or maybe that was a water sale, I forget.
Hello! CONGRESS holds the purse strings. But you know that.
You just live to bash POTUS.
If you posted more .. maybe someone would recognize you and not call you a troll
Well, why don't you enlighten me, Mr. Engels, on the similarities and differences between Marxism, communism, socialism and scientific socialism? That way, I won't keep making these distressing mistakes and you won't have to waste any more of your extraordinary brain power on correcting me :)
correct
I'm sure you'd much prefer that you aren't contradicted, but that's not the way this web site works.
Fascinating that so many here on FR support illegal immigration
You have to LIE to even post, don't you?
when the American People as a whole are overwhelmingly against it in ever poll I have seen.
They surely are against it, but fully 75 percent of them want a guest workers' program.
And they do NOT want them drug over the border.
Well, less graffiti got done.
You say you voted twice for him. He made his views on immigration very clear when campaigning, guest worker program, no amnesty etc... He hasn't changed those views. So it seems you were a hypocrite voting for him, then denouncing him. Immigration is inevitable. It must be controlled. A guest worker program does just that as long as the rules are enforced. And yes there are jobs that many Americans who would rather sit on their butts and collect welfare won't do. If you want to see a traitor, look in the mirror. And I'll save you the trouble of calling me a bushbot...yes I am.
Personally, I think Buchanan is a nutcase, and there's a better chance of me voting for Gumby than him.
All I Know is my mom came here legally obeyed ALL the laws got no special benefis and neither should anyone else we dont need more dumb laws we have laws now that no one obey's so how the heck are they going to obey new laws and right now just like while we were jerking around with the UN on Iraq the illegals are gathering up at our boarder to come in so they can GET all the freebies
EV wrote that.
I cut and pasted his remarks.
Oh, we all know who around here is telling others they're not "real, true" conservatives, don't we?
How many times do you have to repeat that falsehood to make it into a truth?
"...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)
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