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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República popular de Aztlán
So has Morgan Hill, Ca.
We've had this discussion before. That is not what he said; it's the reporter's interpretation of what he said. I posted the EXACT press conference.
But keep lying!
There is that too. :)
Give this man a cigar , he KNOWS the plan ..Totally agree with you pal.
And in my neck of the woods they work for government subcontractors and drive new SUV's like Yukons etc. If you want to find illegals just go visit the DOD facility cities or areas where there are Industrial Parks. It's not enough Fox & Bush encourages factories to move to Mexico they also encourage Mexicans etc to come here and take what jobs that do remain as well.
Well, after I saw who was quoting him, I wasn't the least bit surprised.
(Archived) Mr. Fox, who has said he seeks an open border, has applied constant pressure on Mr. Bush to get the guest-worker program through Congress. Mr. Bush has pledged that he will do all he can.
No moral upstanding parent would turn their 2 year old over to foster care. I think it's disgusting. It doesn't rise to the level of abortion, but it's still disgusting.
According to Dick Morris, the Democrats want to flood the US with low income illegals (the kind that want hand outs from big government), so they will have a 35% locked in voting block among Hispanics and Blacks within 10 years.
McCain has got to be a closet Democrat....or he thinks this is the best path to the White House.
lol
We've never had this discussion before.
Oh, you're brilliant! Not WOT, not Iraq, not SCOTUS, not TAX CUTS etc.
No one is truly advocating that. What people are trying to say is that the Republican party is now Democrat-Lite. They're not as bad as democrats but really, not much better.
We continue to elect Republicans simply because they have an [R] by their name rather than because of their conservative credentials.
In reality, it would be better to take one step back and clear out all of the worthless republicans in the senate and then rebuild with actual conservatives.
This is similar to having a football coach that finishes 8-8 every year. He isn't a terrible coach, but there are certainly better alternatives. The problem is that the you have fire the mediocre coach first which what most of the party cheerleaders just refuse to consider.
Most mediocre coaches will have one big win each year that will salvage their job. This one big win is also coupled with many terrible losses however. The tax cut was the one big win. The ugly losses are too many to list.
All we need to do is hand out SERIOUS jail time to anyonE who employs an illegal . No jobe they would deport themselves in no time flat. Oh yea, cut off the welfare checks to the ENTITLED illegals.
To kill voter turnout.
What's disappointing is you seem to be drinking from the infested third party Kool-Aid bowl. Nary an original thought.
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