Fox says immigration challenges friendship

[PackerfanXD]

Fox says immigration challenges friendship By BROCK VERGAKIS, Associated Press Writer
36 minutes ago



SALT LAKE CITY - Mexican President Vicente Fox said Wednesday that immigration is the most pressing challenge to the relationship between his country and the United States, but is also their greatest opportunity.

Building a wall on the border is not the answer to illegal immigration into the United States, he repeated on his second day of a four-day visit to the western U.S. His country believes it will take more than enforcement to solve the challenges posed by illegal immigration, he said.

"One cannot underestimate the importance of this moment and how complex this issue is for our two nations," Fox told a special session of the Utah Legislature. "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's speech came on the same day the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to limit debate on election-year immigration legislation. That cleared the way for final passage later this week of a bill that calls for tougher border security as well as an eventual chance at citizenship for millions of men and women in this country illegally.

After his appearance in Utah, Fox flew to Washington state to meet with farmers in the Yakima Valley and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski before moving on to Seattle. After that, he is expected to address California lawmakers and meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire specifically pressed Fox to visit eastern Washington, where thousands of Hispanic workers — many of them illegal immigrants — labor in agriculture and comprise as much as 90 percent of the population in some communities. Some Washington farmers are worried that a border crackdown could create a shortage of workers.

"Right now, so far, we're looking for a bigger crop this year, and I'm getting nervous," said Rene Garcia, who owns G&G Orchards, believed to be the only Hispanic-owned apple warehouse in Washington state. "We're not seeing the people circulating around looking for jobs."

Fox, speaking in English, told the Utah lawmakers his nation must expand its economic growth so it is not necessary for people to seek work and benefits across the border, and said democracy cannot flourish unless there is economic freedom to support it.

"Until recently, Mexico was trapped in a vicious cycle of economic crisis, recurring crisis. But we have set out to change that," he said. "Today, Mexico has the soundest, safest, most stable economy of our lifetime."

He said that 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 Mexican economy that residents don't want to leave, and noted that about 1 million Mexican students are offered scholarships.

"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.

"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 the Legislature.

Several dozen protesters gathered outside the state Capitol, waving American flags and carrying signs attacking proposals to offer illegal immigrants amnesty. The Minuteman Project, which opposes illegal immigration, organized the demonstration.

Salt Lake City resident Randy Maw held two signs that drew connections between illegal immigration and the struggle to fund Medicaid.

"We're overpopulated. There are too many illegals working here," Maw said.

[one-eyed-fatman]

Fox can go suck a big one.

[NewXD40fun]

Originally Posted by one-eyed-fatman

Fox can go suck a big one.

You're sucking his oil right now.



Tom

[beardman2]

so? let it strain the relationship. What is the downside? more jobs for americans?

[manic mechanic]

With friends like that....

[one-eyed-fatman]

Originally Posted by NewXD40fun

You're sucking his oil right now.



Tom

You mean Bush is. Damn boy when you going to get your facts straight. This is about Bush and Mexico not me and Mexico. Funnygun lost in his own little wonder world again.

[PackerfanXD]

I don't think he can hear you....

[one-eyed-fatman]

Damn! That you funnygun? Must be on those pink pills again.

[NewXD40fun]

Originally Posted by one-eyed-fatman

You mean Bush is. Damn boy when you going to get your facts straight. This is about Bush and Mexico not me and Mexico. Funnygun lost in his own little wonder world again.

When you fill up your gas tank you are drinking Mexican oil. You are supporting Mexico and the Mexican government.

You are sending money to Mexico when you fill your gas tank.





Tom

[Brickboy240]

The truth?

We import about 15% of our crude oil from Mexico. We import more crude from Canada (around 20%)

You think the Arabs are bad, Pemex is as corrupt or moreso, giving free fuels to drug runners and govt. biggies in Mexico. They have more fatalities and deaths occur in their operations due to lax safety laws than any petroleum company. Moreso than even the corrupt Russian Lukoil. They're awful and its a shame we have to do as much business with them as we do right now.

Greenpeace would have a total sh*tfit if they saw some of the Pemex operations that I have seen firsthand...environmentally horrible practices that would get US based oil operations permanently shut down for good, but Pemex is somehow not focused on by the greenies.

Crude from Mexico is much like crude form Venezuela - thick, gritty viscous stuff that takes longer to refine and is more expensive to refine than oil from other regions. We'd do better to get crude form other sources, even if its close to home.

Another thing that irritates me to no end and it usually comes from Congresspeople from non-oil states like Vermont and Deleware...the bitching about high gas prices and call for investigation into oil compaines. Remember that almost 30% of the cost of a gallon of gasoline is taxes levied by the Federal govt. If these Congresspeople are so uptight about the high gas prices, why don't they ask the govt. to back off the tax, when crude prices soar? You never hear that do you? All they do is tell you to dump your SUV (good idea) or stop driving so much or buy a hybrid or bike. The govt. NEVER cuts back to help out the people that elected them, do they? Bastards.

This is probably the most irritating thing about the high gas prices, if you ask me. Everybody bitches about Exxon or BP but not one complaint about the taxation by a body that does not explore, drill, refine or sell the damn stuff, but slaps on their tax at the end and spends it on things we did not vote for. Whats wrong with this picture?

I work in this industry (the petrochemical end) and know alot about it. Everyone has a right to be pissed, but if you don't include the government and the environmental people in your anger, you're really only pissed at half the problem by demonizing the oil companies alone. The shortages are indirectly caused by the govt. and the refinery situation and cost of refinement and level of refinement is caused by the environmental people.

You need to know WHO it is you're supposed to be pissed off at...ok?

- Brickboy240