Posted on 05/26/2006 2:26:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Mexican President Vicente Fox began wrapping up a U.S. visit Friday that anti-illegal immigration groups slammed as an attempt to influence congressional debate and immigrant supporters praised for recognizing Mexico's responsibility in a binational issue.
Fox's afternoon agenda in a city heavily influenced by Mexican culture included meetings with two fellow proponents of immigration reform, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Both have been high-profile supporters of marches that brought hundreds of thousands of immigrants to the streets.
Fox was also met by about 50 noisy protesters as he arrived downtown at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.
"We want him to create jobs in Mexico, not come here looking for jobs for Mexicans here," said retiree Miguel Salazar, 78, a U.S. citizen originally from Mexico City.
On the four-day trip through Utah, Washington and California, Fox repeatedly has said that Mexico must regulate illegal immigration and must bolster its economy so would-be immigrants no longer see leaving as an economic necessity.
"It's good he is here communicating that Mexico has a stake in legalizing the flow of immigrants," said reform proponent Tamar Jacoby, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. "That does help his cause."
Earlier Friday, Fox told business leaders in Sacramento that an increasingly advanced Mexico offered investment opportunities for U.S. companies. But while Fox has touched on other issues, anti-illegal immigration groups argue his goal is to meddle in U.S. policy at a critical moment.
Fox's visit coincided with the Senate's passage Thursday of sweeping reform legislation that would tighten border security and create a path to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living here.
"He's a foreign government official lobbying in the United States. It's outrageous," said Mark Krikorian, head of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Immigration Studies, which supports tighter immigration controls.
Fox praised the Senate in a Thursday address to a joint session of the California Legislature. But he was careful not to criticize parts of the bill he had previously protested, such as the building a 370-mile stretch of fence along key areas of the U.S.-Mexico border.
While he's been on U.S. soil, Fox also has steered clear of criticizing President Bush's plan to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops to the border.
Regardless of how the trip is interpreted in America, it provides Fox a fringe benefit: raising the profile of his party ahead of Mexico's presidential elections July 2.
Fox's visit coincided with the Senate's passage Thursday of sweeping reform legislation that would tighten border security and create a path to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living here.
"He's a foreign government official lobbying in the United States. It's outrageous," said Mark Krikorian, head of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Immigration Studies, which supports tighter immigration controls.
Isn't it a felony for foreign agents to try to influence US lawmakers?
Mexican president Vicente Fox addresses a group at a luncheon sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Seattle in Seattle, May 25, 2006. REUTERS/Robert Sorbo/Pool
Mexican President Vicente Fox (L) waves next to his wife Marta Sahagun after speaking at the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento, California, May 26, 2006. President Fox finishes his two day visit to Sacramento on Friday before heading to Los Angeles. REUTERS/Kimberly White
CA: Mexican president wraps up U.S. trip with visits to LA leaders (Villaraigosa, Cardinal Mahony)
Our battle is not with the Senators who voted on the "Senate Version" on the bill....the two bill are "oceans" apart.. with the house version being a MUCH BETTER BILL !! our battle is with the Senators who will go to conference with house.. which I just found out will be ALL MEMBERS of the Judiciary Committee and then some additional Senators yet to be named by Reid and Frist !!!...
WE NEED TO LET THESE FOLKS KNOW that we SUPPORT THE HOUSE VERSION !! NOT THE SENATE VERSION !!! now get er done !!
---> for now we can focus our efforts on the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMEBERS !!!
Arlen Specter Orrin G. Hatch Patrick J. Leahy Charles E. Grassley Edward M. Kennedy Jon Kyl Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Mike DeWine Hrbert Kohl Jeff Sessions Dianne Feinstein Lindsey Graham Russell D. Feingold John Cornyn Charles E. Schumer Sam Brownback Richard J. Durbin Tom Coburn
I have written an OPEN LETTER to the conferees and I encouge EVERYONE who cares about this to do the same.... feel free to copy/edit/distribute my letter..
Fox to Mahoney: You keep on protecting all the illegals from the law, and I'll send a bonus check, for you and your church...
Cardinal Mahony is the Patron Saint of Pedophile Priest
A Mexican President, a "former" MEChA supporter, and a modern retreats of the San Patricanos battallion meet to undo the Mexican-American war.
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