Posted on 05/25/2006 7:14:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO, United States (AFP) - Mexican President Vicente Fox called the immigration reform bill passed by the US Senate "a monumental step forward" in a special address to the California legislature.
"It is a moment millions of families have waited for, a moment millions of people have been working for," Fox said to applause in a joint session of the California state assembly and senate in the capital city of Sacramento.
"Today's historic vote is a monumental step forward, but we realize there is more debate ahead," he said, shortly after the US Senate passed an immigration bill that would allow many of the millions of Mexican workers in the United States illegally to remain.
The impassioned close to Fox's speech prompted a standing ovation from legislators, who had applauded intermittently during his appearance.
Fox stressed that his government was committed to "the sovereign right of the United States to enforce its laws and respect its border and its citizens."
Fox told legislators that Mexico was devoting resources to expanding jobs, education and social opportunities there to eliminate the impetus for economic migration.
Mexico and the United States had a shared responsibility to safeguard their borders, enforce immigration laws and combat trafficking of drugs and people, Fox said.
"It will take more than enforcement of building walls to truly solve the problems that cause the immigration phenomenon," Fox said, alluding to a provision in the Senate bill to build a 600 kilometer (370 mile) wall along the southern US border, and double the number of US Border Patrol agents on the border with Mexico.
"Mexico wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem."
Comprehensive US immigration reform such as that approved by the US Senate is in the best interest of Mexico and the United States, Fox said.
The US Senate adopted on Thursday a vast reform of immigration law that would allow millions of undocumented workers to seek legal status in the United States.
The bill passed 62-36 despite a deep division within the majority Republican Party. It has the backing of US President George W. Bush, but differs sharply from a parallel bill passed in the lower House of Representatives.
The bill would also create 200,000 temporary work visas for foreigners who take low-skill jobs here.
...
Mexican President Vicente Fox speaks to members of the California Legislature at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, May 25, 2006. 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. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)
The Spaniards have almost defeated the English for control of the Americas; one more generation to secure Canada and America.
VIVA BUSH!!
Mexican president visits Calif amid intense immigration debate
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1638407/posts
"His Excellency" Vicente Fox?
Considering that we're paying billions for health care, education and incarceration for his hapless hordes, the least Fox could have done is bring us a nice bag of cheesy burritos.
Cheap peckerhead.
The American people have spoken.
The senate has listened.
To the wrong people.
Mexico has found a place to legally dump its waste.
Just one quick question: has the leader of a foreign nation ever previously attempted to influence an American immigration debate so blatantly? Has a non-Mexican foreign government ever sent high-level representatives to discuss our immigration law with any Americans other than correspondingly high-level American federal officials? I find President Fox's behavior bizarre. Why does he want his people to flee his own country? Do we have any valid reasons beyond the purported Aztlan colonization (which I doubt more than a small minority of illegal Mexicans support)?
Did you note the title "His Excellency" added to Fox's name in post #1, right photo?
Hm. If he is for it, then I am against it.
Simple enough.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) chats with Mexican President Vicente Fox at the Capitol in Sacramento, California, May 25, 2006. President Fox is on a two-day visit to Sacramento. REUTERS/Rich Pedroncelli/Pool
Mexican President Vicente Fox (C) speaks before a joint session of the California Legislature as Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (L), D-Los Angeles and State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, listen at the Capitol in Sacramento, California, May 25, 2006. President Fox is on a two-day visit to Sacramento. REUTERS/Kimberly White
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (C), Mexican President Vicente Fox (R) and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, share a light moment as they arrive at the Capitol in Sacramento, California, May 25, 2006. President Fox is on a two-day visit to Sacramento. REUTERS/Kimberly White
Tengo cajones tan grandes.
Well Jimmah Carter and El Presidente Fox support the immigration plan. That's all that needs to be said.
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