Posted on 09/27/2007 4:23:18 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
PUERTO PENASCO, Mexico — Mexican President Felipe Calderon told U.S. governors Thursday that immigration is an inevitable, natural phenomenon and he urged the U.S. Congress to approve reforms that would allow more Mexicans to work legally north of the border.
Calderon demanded that the United States respect "the right to work wherever one can make the greatest contribution."
"Immigration is a natural phenomenon that is economically and socially inevitable," he told the meeting in this Baja California seaside resort town.
In a rare acknowledgment of the costs of migration for Mexico, Calderon said his country "doesn't not celebrate migration ... our best people are the ones who go."
Immigration and border security were among the top issues at the meeting, the 25th annual such event between Mexican and U.S. governors from states along the two countries' common border. Mexican officials were focused on stopping the illegal flow of U.S. weapons into Mexico and protesting expansion of U.S. border fencing. For the Americans, the drug trade, migration and border security topped the list.
On Monday, the U.S. government announced plans to erect about 370 miles of fencing and 200 miles of vehicle barriers by the end of 2008.
Tension over the fences — which have drawn criticism from environmentalists, land owners and politicians both in Mexico and the United States — surfaced at the meeting.
"This is the great tragedy," said Carlos de la Parra, a participant in the conference's environmental panel, as he pointed to a map of proposed border fences separating nature reserves. Mentioning a list of wildlife that migrates across the border, Parra, of Mexico's Colegio de la Frontera, noted "these animals don't cross the border to shop. They do it out of necessity."
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has opposed the border fencing, praised Mexico and its cooperation with its northern neighbor.
"The relationship has become stronger and stronger each year," he said. "We have become more than just good neighbors. We have become good friends."
Describing his many visits to Mexico since his first one 40 years ago, Schwarzenegger lifted a line from his movie "Terminator," quipping, "I always look forward to saying, 'I'll be back."
Eduardo Bours, governor of the border state of Sonora, called for more border crossings, saying those that exist between Arizona and Sonora are saturated.
"There are lines of three, four and five hours, and so we have to invest much more in border crossings," he said.
He also called for a crackdown on U.S. weapons that "cross the border all too easily." Calderon said weapons illicitly smuggled in from the U.S. had been responsible for killing dozens of Mexican policemen
While all the Mexican governors were scheduled to attend, half of the U.S. contingent of governors — New Mexico's Bill Richardson and Texas' Rick Perry were not coming.
Richardson, who is making a presidential bid, did not give a reason for his absence; Perry's office cited a scheduling conflict.
Build a fence, Presidente!
BUILD THAT FENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only because they refuse to make Mexico a country worth living in.
we’ll keep the guns here, you keep your citizens there. Do we have a deal el Presidente?
A relationship with Mexico is a one way venture.
Next thing you know they'd taken the place over and were begging to be annexed by the United States.
The fence will help this problem.
Meanwhile it’s fixed bayonets at Mexico’s southern border to greet the Central Americans trying to get in.
How much for an eigth ounce of that stuff Guv.?
There you go with that diplomatic speak again and using the "D" word. /s
No barf alert?
If Mexico had competent leaders who tried to improve the social and economic conditions of Mexico, they wouldn’t need to export laborers who, in turn, import American Dollars.
What a creative way to say "Your country serves as a social safety-valve for our corrupt, filthy rich oligarchy."
A one way venture....the United States' establishment makes her citizens bend over for Mexico City every time.
“In a rare acknowledgment of the costs of migration for Mexico, Calderon said his country “doesn’t not celebrate migration ... our best people are the ones who go.”
The hell it doesn’t. The old entrenched oligarchical families celebrate every poor Mexican who goes north, then sends back money which helps keep the peace and preserve the old order.
So is defending one's own turf when it's in jeopardy.
And a dozen US citizens are murdered every day on average by his 'migrants', the hypocrite.
Here you have the President of a sovereign country in the act of acquiescence to the fact that his own countrymen are better off contributing to the greatness of somebody elses country than to his own. Not just the average countryman, but in his words, ‘the best’.
I struggle for parallels.
Dignity-wise, is it not about the same level some desperate parent gets to when they have accepted the viability of selling a child into slavery?
“No alternative is avaialble to us, and for the good of the family, as your father, I have decided we simply must sell you off. Good-bye my daughter. Send us money when you have it.”
Calderon must not have any mirrors in his palace there in Mexico City. How do you look yourself in the face and make such statements?
So you as a government figurehead want all your good people to leave?
What a maroon!
All Bush needs to do is have a open season with no bag limit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.