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Patriot Games
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http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/mexico_immigration/2007/09/28/36496.html
Mexican President: We Are Coming!
Friday, September 28, 2007
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 Sonora 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 (600
kilometers) of fencing and 200 miles (320 kilometers) 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 great 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.
Mexican President: We Are Coming!
Friday, September 28, 2007
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 Sonora 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 (600
kilometers) of fencing and 200 miles (320 kilometers) 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 great 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.
