Fox says immigration on agenda of visit with Bush

Houston Chronicle ^ | March 2, 2004 | IOAN GRILLO

[RickofEssex]

Fox says immigration on agenda of visit with Bush

MEXICO CITY -- President Vicente Fox said Tuesday that he plans to hammer out more details of a guest worker program for Mexicans in the United States when he meets with President Bush at his Crawford ranch this week.

"The initiatives are there, and we have to keep on working," Fox said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle and other Texas newspapers. "The purpose of this visit is to follow up on the proposal."

Fox said the issues of Mexicans on death row in the United States and his nation's water debt to Texas may also be discussed during his meetings with Bush on Friday and Saturday.

Since he assumed the presidency in December 2000, Fox has been pushing for an agreement to legalize the status of some of the estimated 5 million undocumented Mexicans in the United States. But after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, Washington put immigration issues on the back burner while focusing on the war against terrorism.

Discussions finally moved forward in January, when Bush announced a plan to give renewable three-year visas to immigrants with jobs in the United States.

"We have to keep this debate going," Fox said.

In their talks about immigration, Fox and Bush are expected to also discuss a plan under which Mexicans who are apprehended after illegally entering the United States would be deported to their hometowns instead of being dropped along the border.

In a visit to Mexico last month, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said such a repatriation proposal would discourage migrants from immediately trying to cross the border again and would thus save lives. Hundreds of migrants have died along the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years.

Fox said the repatriation proposal would be acceptable only if it was voluntary and did not violate laws guaranteeing freedom of movement.

"Mexico is totally against anything that violates human rights," Fox said in the interview with the Chronicle, the Dallas Morning News, the San Antonio Express-News and the Austin American-Statesman.

Another controversial issue expected to be discussed in Crawford is Mexico's water debt to the United States. Under a 1944 water-sharing treaty, Mexico is to deliver about 350,000 acre-feet of water to the United States from its Rio Grande tributaries each year. After falling behind on payments in the 1990s, Mexico accumulated a debt of about 1.3 million acre-feet. An acre-foot of water would flood an acre of land one foot deep.

Geronimo Gutierrez, undersecretary for North American affairs at the Foreign Relations Department, said Tuesday that Mexico may offer an extra 90,000 acre-feet per year on top of its full annual payment. However, this falls short of demands made by Texas officials. During a visit to Mexico last month, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said she asked the Mexican government for an extra payment of 700,000 acre-feet this year.

Fox said the issue of Mexicans on death row is also likely to come up this weekend.

Mexico has asked the World Court to investigate whether 51 Mexicans on death row in the United States were denied their right to legal help from the Mexican government. The court, which has no power to enforce its verdicts, ruled that the executions should be stayed pending its final decision.

[Howlin]

Fox says a lot of stuff, most of it not true.

[EggsAckley]

I don't trust the man. He's a shell game with feet.

[Howlin]

He acts like what he thinks and says should be written in law in this country.

BAH!

[Shermy]

Fox is the only world leader diligently working to get rid of his own people. Pesky peasants, they might demand something of the Mexican elite otherwise.

Known in Mexico as the "safety valve" strategy.

[DumpsterDiver]

President Vicente Fox said Tuesday...

Fox said in an interview...

"We have to keep this debate going," Fox said.

Secretary Tom Ridge said...

Fox said the repatriation proposal...

Fox said in the interview with the Chronicle...

Geronimo Gutierrez, undersecretary for North American affairs at the Foreign Relations Department, said...

Fox said the issue of Mexicans on death row...

Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up Shut up

Shut up

[Howlin]

He also butts into our elections, which really rips me off.

[John Beresford Tipton]

Get ready to bend over George.

[Iberian]

My friends, Hispanics are not our enemy. The pajama wearing pieces of middle east garbage are the enemy. Remember life pre 9/11??

[Howlin]

My friends, Hispanics are not our enemy.

Skim back through my remarks and post the EXACT reply I made where I said anything close to that.

I'll wait.

[Cicero]

At the beginning of his term Bush was very hopeful about Fox, and so were most of us. The PRP had finally been deposed after almost a century of corruption. It didn't take long for Fox to disillusion us. I expect that Bush will be polite and make nice noises, but he is unlikely to give Fox what he asks for. So far that's how Bush has handled it.

[BillyBoy]

MEET THE "CONSERVATIVE" PRESIDENT OF MEXICO:

- Governors to the left of the ultra corrupt PRI
- Whole-heartily supports the welfare state.
- Supports U.N. Mandated Gun Control.
- Maintains friendly relations with communist Cuba
- Outspoken opponent of the death penalty, not only in his country but abroad as well.
- Bitterly opposed Iraq War and sought to undermine the U.S. every step of the way
- Loves Higher Taxes & Big Government Goodies
- Another "devout" Catholic "leader" who breaks his church's divorce laws, insults the Pope, and is "personally" pro-life but never speaks out on the issue.

With "Friends" Like Vince, Who Needs Enemies??

[Howlin]

I agree 100 percent!

[IreneGOP]

V. Fox need to do something about his own corrupt government and stop sending their poorest illegals to rape our country of everything we pride. America is soon to turn into a third world garbage can (in CA it's getting bad) if we don't SPEAK UP NOW!

[Paleo Conservative]

I think a concrete fence along the US-Mexican border with barbed wire and embedded broken glass would be better.

[Iberian]

Huge difference between terrorist and the folks that support our infrastructure. To call hispanics terrorists is like calling the baggage handlers at the airports terrorists. COME ON!!

[Iberian]

To compare the axis of Japan and Germany in WW2 and the folk that are HERE is ludicrous. Pre 9/11 this was practically a non issue.
We need to focus on the real terrorists that are amongst us, they are not mowing lawns, putting roofs on homes serving tables, washing dishes and so on.
Fox is an idiot, I agree, but the Hispanics are not hurting anyone (anymore than the blacks,whites or anyone else)
Beware of the pajama wearing fools that bear explosives or other means of hurting us. The middle East crowd worries me
not the Hispanics.
Seen the news lately??

[PokeyJoe]

Texas should invade Mexico and take it over. Half of Mexico lives in Texas anyhow.

[skeeter]

We need to focus on the real terrorists that are amongst us, they are not mowing lawns, putting roofs on homes serving tables, washing dishes and so on.

Agreed. Real terrorists should be incarcerated or if need be, even executed.

Illegal aliens need merely be deported.