Posted on 11/27/2002 1:46:56 AM PST by kattracks
MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Nov 27, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Mexico and the United States now appear willing to hash out a quick, partial immigration package that might provide more guest-worker visas but avoid the thorny issue of legal status for undocumented migrants.
The administration of President Vicente Fox appeared to lower its sights Tuesday, calling for a rapid, tangible agreement even if it amounts to less than the "whole enchilada" of legalization and open borders Mexico once sought.
"The Mexican government made its position very clear ... about looking for concrete, specific, timely agreements on very concrete points we can move on now," Foreign Secretary Jorge Castaneda said at a Mexico City news conference with Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Powell, who headed a U.S. delegation for two days of talks that ended Tuesday, suggested a quick series of discussions on the least controversial issues, perhaps including temporary work visas.
"We want to come up with an agenda of items that we can pursue over the next six months to a year," Powell said. "We want Mexicans to travel to the United States" and then "come back to their homes to share whatever wealth they have gained by their efforts."
Powell said the issue of the estimated 4 million undocumented Mexican immigrants already in the United States "is a problem that will also have to be dealt with in due course, but these things will take time."
Fox desperately needs to show some kind of quick results on immigration: he faces midterm congressional elections in 2003 with little progress to show on domestic issues from his first two years in office.
Most undocumented workers in the United States are Mexicans, and bettering their situation would provide a huge boost for Fox's conservative National Action Party.
Powell promised "to work as hard and as fast as we can" but offered no specifics.
President Bush, in a videotaped message to the Cabinet-level meeting of the two countries, agreed that work on migration should continue. However, Fox complained that the United States had unfairly subjected all migrants to increased security measures following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Fox called for a migration framework that "clearly distinguishes between those who arrive in that country to work and those who could represent a threat."
The two countries appeared headed for a serious negotiation on migration last year, but the process was derailed by the terrorist attacks.
The meetings did touch on security concerns, with the two nations promising to implement quicker, high-tech methods of checking vehicles and passengers at border crossings.
They also announced a cross-border initiative to improve air quality, in part by speeding up traffic jams at those crossings caused in part by tightened security.
Bush spoke warmly of Fox's leadership and restated his view that the United States "has no more important relationship in the world than the one we have with Mexico."
In addition to Powell, the visiting American VIPs were Attorney General John Ashcroft, Education Secretary Rod Paige, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, Interior Secretary Gail Norton, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman.
By MARK STEVENSON Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Well isn't this just peachy. Nothing is ever temporary. Why are we even discussing this insane idea? Once these so-called temporary workers get here, they never ever leave. And, why should they, there is no interior enforcement to remove them once that disappear like the other 13 million illegal aliens who have no fear of ever being apprehended. Until Congress and the President appropriate money to hire thousands of interior enforcement officers to remove illegal aliens, this temporary worker issue should never see the light of day. No where has the President or Congress proposed hiring more interior enforcement. It's not in the new Homeland Security bill. No Interior Enforcement, No Temporary Work Visas!
Name ONE "conservative" thing Fox has done since taking office. Just one.
The Mexican government certainly has a very bad habit of demanding this, that, and the other from the United States since that fleabag Fox and his Marxist side-kick Castaneda came into power. Castaneda has threatened to stir up militant action on our soil over not getting a free ride for their invading hordes, the low-life:
That's tantamount to a declaration of war. I hope the only action those leeches get out of us is a single-digit salute and several million illegals plopped onto Fox's doorstep.
Powell said the issue of the estimated 4 million undocumented Mexican immigrants already in the United States
I'd like to know what field Powell is playing on if he thinks there are only 4 million illegals here. The figure is closer to 8-11 million. Is this what the administration believes? Is that why they don’t seem to realize the enormity of the problem?
We already have thousands of interior enforcement officers. It's call the local & state police departments. All GWB has to do is ORDER them to uphold the law of the land. You find an illegal, turn them over to the INS. But then again he'd also have to make the INS actually do their job and deport the cockroaches.
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