Posted on 05/25/2006 4:57:59 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Mexican President Vicente Fox arrived in California Thursday amid intense debate over immigration and as the U.S. Senate approved sweeping reforms that include tighter border security and a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
Fox was to address a joint session of the state Legislature and meet privately with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, their first meeting since the movie star became governor.
On Wednesday, Schwarzenegger said he would stress Mexico's responsibility for illegal immigration in his meeting with Fox.
"Mexico is our friend," Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol news conference. "I am going to have an open discussion with President Fox of how can we work together ... (to) solve problems of our environment, our immigration and border security problems and how we can work together to make our industry flourish."
California is the last stop on Fox's four-day visit to the western U.S., which also included appearances in Utah and Washington. In Seattle, Fox outlined a five-point position on immigration, saying Mexico does not support illegal migration and must expand economic growth so migration is "(no) longer a necessity, but a freewill decision."
The timing of the visit - as the Senate approved far-reaching immigration reforms - is awkward for the Mexican president, who has urged Congress to take a softer approach.
The bill passed Thursday in the Senate would build a triple-layer border fence along 370 miles and add U.S. Border Patrol agents, while giving millions of illegal immigrants a means of earning citizenship. But there is no such provision in the House bill, which makes it a felony to be in this country illegally.
President Bush, meanwhile, has called on governors to send 6,000 National Guard troops to the southern border to back up the Border Patrol, which Fox opposes.
Schwarzenegger has raised questions about Bush's plan, although on Wednesday he said he was prepared to go along with it, as long as the deployment is temporary.
The illegal immigration issue has been a political land mine in California for a decade. There is strong sentiment among voters to stem it, but the emerging Hispanic electorate is sensitive to anything that smacks of discrimination.
California has more illegal immigrants than any other state - 2.4 million according to a 2004 study by the Pew Hispanic Center. They work predominantly on farms, in construction and in the service industry, from hotels to restaurants.
Immigrants also are a major source of income to Mexico. Mexicans living in the United States sent home about $20 billion last year. And Latin American immigrants in California, the majority of whom are Mexican, send more money home than from any other state, more than $9.6 billion in 2004.
The country is economically important to California, as well, and is the state's No. 1 trading partner. In 2005, California's exports to Mexico totaled almost $18 billion, second only to Texas, which exported $50 billion. California's exports to Mexico directly or indirectly support 177,000 jobs, according to Schwarzenegger's office.
The governor has walked a fine line on the issue of illegal immigration, blaming the federal government for not doing enough to solve the problem, while reminding voters of his own immigrant past.
Schwarzenegger said Wednesday that he would tell Fox, "that immigration and border security is a federal issue and the federal governments of both sides, the United States and Mexico, can and must do more."
Some of the governor's fellow Republicans were more critical of Fox's visit. About half a dozen GOP lawmakers planned to boycott Fox's speech to the Legislature.
"I think that rather than wasting our time and his time trying to tell us what to do and how to do it, I think he should go back to his country, fix his economy and stop sending his social problems to the United States," said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta.
A spokesman for Assembly Republican leader George Plescia of La Jolla said several members were unhappy that Fox had declined an invitation to meet with them. Fox is scheduled to meet with Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, before his speech.
"We think it's unfortunate he can't meet with us when he's meeting with the Democrats," Plescia spokesman Morgan Crinklaw said.
Some Republican lawmakers also were circulating yellow buttons with the words "No Mas," or no more, to wear to Fox's address Thursday night.
Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, said in a statement that the buttons were designed to draw attention to the party's frustration with what it believes is Mexico's lack of attention to illegal immigration.
"Mexico cannot continue to ignore the crisis of illegal immigration into the United States, and President Fox must work with the United States to take the necessary steps to control our borders," he said.
It will be the California Legislature's first joint session other than annual speeches by the governor and chief justice since Spain's former prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, spoke to lawmakers in 2003.
On Thursday morning, Schwarzenegger traveled to Southern California for a visit to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, where he received a warm welcome. Under President Bush's plan, National Guard troops could be deployed from the base to the southern border.
Schwarzenegger thanked the troops for protecting the nation and, as he has in the past, celebrated the opportunities he has enjoyed as an immigrant.
"I'm proud to be an American," he said, eliciting cheers from the audience. "As an immigrant, someone that has come over here from Austria, I appreciate that more than anyone."
Is Fox looking for a job picking lettuce? (Understand he'll be out of work soon.)
Dennis Mountjoy, Tom McClintock, and Chuck DeVore will not attend,, not sure who the others might be.
Some of the governor's fellow Republicans were more critical of Fox's visit. About half a dozen GOP lawmakers planned to boycott Fox's speech to the Legislature.
"I think that rather than wasting our time and his time trying to tell us what to do and how to do it, I think he should go back to his country, fix his economy and stop sending his social problems to the United States," said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta.
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I suspect Ray Haynes might be one of the others.
Fox is doing a mexican hat dance in his hotel room right now after hearing about the amnesty bill being approved.
Yeah, he is El Presidente 'til December. His wife is loaded, I think.
They're not only going give him the keys to the city, but he gets to tag Disneyland!
No legitimate politician should be giving this meddler the time of day. FOAD Vicente
Davi Rodrigues, left, protests the visit of Mexican President Vicente Fox on the sidewalk in front of the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, May 25, 2006. Fox will meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and address members of the legislature during his visit. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)
The real reason he's here is to pick up a driver's license so he can vote.
Don't get down on Vinnie, he is one of the FEW SELF MADE men in Mexico.
He went to Harvard not because he was connected, but because his genius had to be acknowledged.
He came from a VERY POOR family, no money, no connections
Mexican President Vicente Fox holds a bird belonging to a resident of the Sea Mar Community Health Center in Seattle, Thursday, May 25, 2006. Fox toured the non-profit health-care and intergenerational residence home facility as part of a two-day visit to Washington. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool)
IF there are only 2.4 million illegal intruder crimmigrants in California, I am a Mother Superior....NOT!!!!!
I hope the corrupt POS equally deems it appropriate to respect the sovereignty of his betters...
He needs to be helping his own country; not invading ours.
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