Posted on 05/23/2006 3:10:22 PM PDT by kingattax
SALT LAKE CITY - Kicking off a three-day, three-state tour, Mexican President Vicente Fox on Tuesday stressed the need for greater cooperation between his country and the U.S. on such things as trade, energy and security. Left unmentioned was the hot topic of illegal immigration.
In a lunchtime speech to about 500 business, civic and religious leaders, Fox discussed his accomplishments during his six-year term, which ends this year, and promoted trade opportunities with Utah and the rest of the U.S.
Working together, Mexico and the U.S. can improve the quality of life for citizens in both countries, he said.
"The future of North America must guarantee great competitiveness, greater regional security, greater availability of energy, greater trade exchanges and, naturally, a greater well-being for all of its inhabitants," said Fox, who is also scheduled to visit Washington state and California this week.
He spoke of the steps he has taken to strengthen the Mexican economy and the democratization of his country.
He did not mention immigration, although his visit comes as the U.S. Senate considers legislation to strengthen border security, authorize new guest-worker programs and give an eventual chance at citizenship to most of the estimated 12 million people already living illegally in the United States.
Later in the day, Fox was scheduled to meet with Mexican immigrants at the Utah Cultural Center and then attend an official dinner at the governor's mansion.
Utah, like many states, is divided on immigration. While Utah's largest minority population is Hispanic, there also is growing frustration about the wave of illegal immigrants entering the state.
Jorge Fierro, a Mexican citizen who has lived in Utah since 1986, hopes Fox addresses how he and future leaders can improve the lives of Mexicans. Fierro, who is catering an address Fox is scheduled to make at Rico's Market, opened his first bean stand in 1997 and now sells Mexican food products in supermarkets throughout Utah.
"This is going to boost our morale now that our brothers and sisters are facing uncertainty in their future," Fierro said.
The Minuteman Project, which opposes illegal immigration, is planning protests at the Capitol, where Fox is scheduled to address a special session of the Legislature on Wednesday.
"I'd like to see Vicente Fox tell his people to respect the law and come here legally," said Alex Segura, founder of the Utah Minuteman Project.
Fox will also meet privately Wednesday with Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Republican. Huntsman supports President Bush's plan to send as many as 6,000 National Guard troops to the Mexican border and says it's important for Fox to see firsthand the frustrations Western states feel when it comes to illegal immigrants burdening health care and prison systems.
Fox also is expected to meet with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The majority of Utah residents are Mormon, as is the Legislature and Huntsman. The Mormon church also has a strong presence in Mexico, where in 2004 membership exceeded 1 million.
Fox's itinerary in Washington state Wednesday and Thursday includes a meeting with farm workers, a dinner with the governor and breakfast with business leaders.
Later Thursday, Fox is to address a joint session of the California Legislature and meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. It will be Schwarzenegger's first meeting with Fox since he became governor in 2003. Fox also is expected to meet in Los Angeles with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Quit spamming threads with that reply.
We ARE working together - they send 'em over and we fail to send 'em back. Working together is the problem!
What this ASSH##lE really means is you take care of them as MEXICO won't,
SOB LIER.
It's pretty clear and obvious that when "el presidente'" talks about "working together" he means on his terms and only on his terms.
Hey, Vincente'....blow it out yer arse, boy! Remember Santa Anna? Remember San Jacinto? It can happen again.
Fox needs to invite US oil companies to both explore for new and increase production from current oil fields.
Kind of like a fox and hen would work together.
Of course, I don't know whether Fox is known to be corrupt. Perhaps he feels the insult to Mexico is worthwhile so he won't have to clean up Mexican politics sufficiently to support a real economy. Is that it?
Shalom.
Yes, and our government is bending over backwards to improve the quality of life for his citizens in both countries.
If you were Fox wouldn't you want to get rid of your poorest, least educated people?
If Canada wanted to take our poorest 10% and a large number of criminals to boot, would you object?
No, we don't need a replay of the Alamo. However, great grandad did a number on Santa Ana at San Jacinto.
What has Vincente Fox ever done to improve the lifes of the Mexican People?
Vincente Fox and all of his predessors have promoted a country where there is a rich upper class and a very poor lower class and has never developed a middle class where there is hope for a better life.
This is a fact of life in Mexico and South America. There will never be an opportunity for the poor to improve there way of life.
Vincente Fox is just dumping his poor people on the USA and is treating the USA with contempt.
Winfield Scott
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