Calderon Says Mexican Immigration to U.S. Can't Be Stopped

By Brendan Walsh

Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon said the illegal immigration of Mexicans to the U.S. can't be stopped because of the strong demand for inexpensive labor there.

``It's impossible to stop that by decree. It's impossible to try to stop that with a fence,'' Calderon said today in a taped interview with ABC News' ``Good Morning America.''

A lack of job prospects prompts more than 400,000 Mexicans to enter the U.S. each year seeking work both legally and illegally, according to the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington.

The U.S. Senate this month voted to spend $3 billion for more fences, patrol agents and surveillance along the U.S.- Mexico border. Calderon said he's seeking to improve economic conditions in Mexico so that citizens don't have to leave the country for work.

``In the future, I can't imagine a Mexico without enough economic growth to provide for them,'' Calderon said during the ABC interview. ``I want to build the conditions in Mexico to provide the opportunities here.''

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