Posted on 03/31/2006 1:16:06 PM PST by Icelander
CANCUN, Mexico -- Mexican President Vicente Fox said his government was preparing to extradite at least 24 drug traffickers to the United States, but he ruled out using police to stop migrants on Mexico's side of the border.
Speaking to reporters in Cancun, where he was meeting with President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Fox said Thursday he couldn't release the names of the traffickers facing extradition, and warned they might react violently to the prospect of being sent abroad.
"This will be punishment for them because we'll take them out of Mexico so they stop operating," Fox said.
He said the first dozen will be turned over to the United States in the coming weeks and at least another 12 will soon follow. Fox had earlier mentioned extraditing a smaller number of traffickers.
In November, Mexico's Supreme Court overturned a 4-year-old ban on the extradition of suspects facing life in prison, removing an obstacle that had prevented many of the country's most notorious criminals from facing U.S. justice. Mexico, however, can still deny extradition if the person faces the death penalty.
American investigators say allowing top drug suspects from Colombia to be extradited to the United States reshaped the anti-narcotics battle in that country and that extraditing Mexican suspects could have a similar effect here.
While Fox's statements on the extraditions were likely to please the United States, he flatly ruled out any possibility that Mexico would try to prevent its migrants from crossing the border illegally.
Mexico has long cited a freedom-of-movement clause in its Constitution as prohibiting any attempt to stop would-be Mexican migrants from massing at border towns.
"We can't infringe upon the right of people to move freely within our territory," Fox said.
Fox said his government has strengthen enforcement on Mexico's southern border, where 240,000 Central American migrants heading to the United States were deported last year.
Border security is expected to be the focus of a meeting Friday between Fox, Bush and Harper, who wrap a two-day North American summit here.
Mexico's top priority with its northern neighbor is a migration accord that would address the status of the estimated 6 million undocumented Mexican workers living in the United States.
Fox said he remains optimistic that the U.S. Congress will approve a migration accord favorable to Mexico.
"It would be a win-win situation," Fox said. "If we can create an orderly migration flow, it would give both of our countries security and create economic and competitive advantages."
Cancun had braced for possible protests against Bush's visit. Dozens of police carrying tear-gas rifles manned roadblocks designed to keep protesters 10 miles away from the summit site.
But only a few protesters - who said they supported immigration reform in the United States - showed up.
A small group of protesters gathered outside the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza in neighboring Yucatan state, where the three leaders visited earlier in the day. The demonstrators - who were kept far from the official visitors - carried signs saying, "Bush you're not welcome in Yucatan, murderer."
In Mexico City, a band of about 200 demonstrators protested in front of the U.S. embassy against Bush's visit on Thursday, blocking trafficking and burning an American flag.
The title is a no-brainer. Of course not. That flow of illegals is keeping him alive -- literally. And of course, his buddy, El Jefe Presidente Bush, is pandering to it, all the way. They both suck.
Fox wants the US, that's you and me, to fund a complete rebuilding of Mexico's infrastructure. He calls it 'investing' in Mexico. Clearly, Mexico can't rebuild itself, since it doesn't have the brains to pour sand in a hole.
Like Bush would have the huevos to ask him to...
Why should Fox do anything about illegal border crossings? Our President won't do anything about the problem either. In fact Bush has stood in the way of any law enforcement concerning border security.
Our lack of secure borders have been a win-win situation for Mexico since April 22, 1836.
Fox's ethnic cleansing of Mexico contiues unabated.
""We can't infringe upon the right of people to move freely within our territory," Fox said."
We're talking about the tunnels from your soil into ours and your nationals sneaking into our country..
Sheesh!
Bush has sold this country out Big Time.
I'll bet Fox would figure out a way to slow the flow if we slowed the flow of Dollars going South.
Translation, the illegal alien flow into the USA is Fox's way of extorting additional foreign aid from the USA via the money sent back by the illegals.
WHen is this bill going to be done?? I want all business owners FINED TO THE GILLS for hiring these people!! I would be turning them all in!!! ANd they better follow the law when I do!! This makes me so sick and ticked off......Bush has really let us down.
Nor will he work to stop narco trafficing or graft and corruption throughout every aspect of mexican govt. and society.
Great job there vinny you f-ing failure.
SO, fox throws us a bone by claiming to get tough on drug lords...However; the above statement really just says , he's going to send us some small fry for the media to play up. All at the same time eliminate rising competiton for the true drug lords at home ( mexico)
Gee thanks vincente.
Neither will Bush.
A pox be upon both of them.
As soon as our dear Senators make all the Illegals legal so they can get their votes! (/sarcasm)
Of course he isn't interested in keeping the criminals in his country where they belong. He'd much rather send them out of the country.
Why should Fox do anything about illegal border crossings? Our President won't do anything about the problem either. In fact Bush has stood in the way of any law enforcement concerning border security.
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Fox won't and the illegals are emboldened by the very blatant fact that Bush won't touch an illegal. What a pathetic situation...your government in action giving it to you right where it hurts!!!
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