BROCK VERGAKIS - The Associated Press | Posted: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 11:00 pm
SALT LAKE CITY -- Mexican President Vicente Fox said Wednesday that Mexico does not support undocumented migration and that his country must expand economic growth so it is not necessary for people to seek work and benefits across the border.
"We must continue to expand economic and social opportunities, jobs and income to people so migration becomes a decision and not a necessity," Fox said, speaking in English to a special session of the Utah Legislature.
Democracy cannot flourish unless there is economic freedom to support it, he said.
"Until recently, Mexico was trapped in a vicious cycle of economic crisis, recurring crisis. But we have set out to change that," Fox said. "Today, Mexico has the soundest, safest, most stable economy of our lifetime."
He said 25 million impoverished Mexicans now have access to health, educational and nutritional support and that his administration has spent more on improving the lives of its residents than any other Mexican administration.
Fox said investing in education is vital to developing a robust economy that will create a country its residents won't want to leave. About 1 million Mexican students are offered scholarships to continue their education, he said.
"I am absolutely convinced that those 1 million young (people) would have been trying to get to the United States to look for a job," he said.
Fox said immigration represents both a challenge and an opportunity in the U.S.-Mexico relationship.
"One cannot underestimate the importance of this moment and how complex this issue is for our two nations," Fox said. "Since the beginning of my administration, the government of Mexico has promoted the establishment of a new system that regulates the movement of people across our border in a manner which is legal, safe and orderly."
Fox said the policy is guided by the concept that United States and Mexico share in the bilateral management of migration.
Fox, on his second day of a four-day visit to the western United States, said building a wall on the border is not the answer to illegal immigration in the United States. He said Mexico remains committed to fighting all forms of human smuggling and trafficking, but his country believes it will take more than enforcement to solve challenges posed by illegal immigration.
Fox's speech to the Utah legislature comes the same day the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to limit debate on election-year immigration legislation, clearing the way for final passage for the bill later this week.
Several dozen protesters awaited Fox outside the state Capitol on Wednesday, waving American flags and carrying signs decrying the idea of offering illegal immigrants amnesty.
The Minuteman Project, which opposes illegal immigration, organized the protest.
Salt Lake City resident Randy Maw, wearing a shirt decorated with U.S. flags, held two signs at the designated protest area at the Capitol that drew connections between illegal immigration and the struggle to fund Medicaid.
"We're overpopulated. There are too many illegals working here," Maw said.
Kent Rounkles drove to the capitol from Ogden to show his disapproval of Fox by displaying a large banner with a "No Social Security benefits to illegal aliens" sign.
"There are legal citizens that are waiting," he said.
Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said one of the biggest benefits of Fox's speech is that he offered clarity on Mexico's position on immigration, which, he said, many legislators and Utah residents were unaware of.
"For me, one of the most important ones was the nature of the bilateral requirement that both sides enforce immigration policy. We've been hearing a lot that there's only a one-sided approach. He really pushed hard on that issue that it had to be both sides," Valentine said.
Fox said Mexico wants to be part of the solution on illegal immigration, not part of the problem.
"Mexico acknowledges the sovereign right of each country to enforce its laws and protect its borders but considers that among friends, neighbors and partners, bilateral dialogue and cooperation is the key component for the successful management of migration," he said.
Fox also had a private meeting with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church said it would not comment on the meeting. Fox and church President Gordon B. Hinckley met in Mexico in 2002. The LDS Church has more than 1 million members in Mexico.
Wednesday morning Fox spoke to about 75 Hispanic leaders from Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
"His message for the community is that there's hope with the whole immigration (issue), comprehensive reform," said Luz Robles, local chapter chairwoman for the Institute for Mexicans Abroad. "We're looking forward to the fact the Mexican government cares for us because of our contribution socially and economically to Mexico."
Fox left Salt Lake City just after noon for Washington state, where he visited a Latino-owned fruit orchard in the Yakima Valley. He also has scheduled stops in Seattle and in California through Friday.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A3.