Thread: Mexicans support Bush, and barely notice his visit

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Mexicans support Bush, and barely notice his visit
August 04,2006
Jennifer C. Smith
Monitor Staff Writer


REYNOSA — Flor Estrada had no complaints about President Bush’s “five-point” immigration plan, which he touted just across the river Thursday at Anzalduas County Park in Mission.

“I fully support him,” she said in Spanish, as the blaring car horns and scorching heat of this teeming Mexican border city flared a few feet outside the door of her liquor store.

For the most part, though, Reynosa residents seemed unimpressed by the U.S. president’s visit and seemed more interested in the health woes of the Cuban president.

Bush’s visit “doesn’t affect us,” said Transit Police Second Commander Israel Marín Terano, as he surveyed traffic entering the city from the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge.

“More people are talking about (Fidel) Castro’s health.”

Most of the people who were interested in Bush were in agreement with his calls for greater border security, his temporary worker program and his call for learning to speak English in the United States.

Huddled in the shade around the plaza and in the streets Thursday afternoon, people of mixed ages said they understood Bush’s immigration concerns.

“It’s bad so many people are leaving the country illegally,” said Estrada, 31, who owns Licorería Imperial on Avenida Miguel Alemán. “They need to have documents.”

Bush also wants immigrants to get identification cards when in the United States.

Amen to that, said Maria Juarez, as she waited at a taco counter. Learning English is not such a bad idea either, she added.

“I’ve met people who have lived in McAllen for 40 years and never learned English,” the local security guard said in English as she rolled a toothpick around in her mouth.

However, the idea of a guest worker program does trouble her — and not because she supports amnesty or full citizenship for the undocumented living in the United States.

“A lot of people in Mexico make trouble, use drugs and then go to the U.S.,” she said.

Not everyone sang Bush’s praises, though.

“I don’t like him too much because he wants to put up more borders,” said Luis Anguizno, 50, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, who was in Reynosa on business. “The U.S. and Mexico are brothers.”
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Jennifer C. Smith covers health, environment and science issues at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.

To read more about the president’s visit, as well as watch and hear audio from the day’s events and read reporter blogs, visit www.themonitor.com/bush.

“I don’t like him too much because he wants to put up more borders,” said Luis Anguizno, 50, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, who was in Reynosa on business. “The U.S. and Mexico are brothers.”

Well if we're brothers, then how about Mexico step up to the plate and help pay off the tremendous part ot the national debt they contribute to?

Brothers...Sorry luis, they are not mi hermanos.

“I don’t like him too much because he wants to put up more borders,” said Luis Anguizno, 50, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, who was in Reynosa on business. “The U.S. and Mexico are brothers.”

We do not want to "put up more borders"...we just want to deal with the one we already have.

Mexico is no brother of mine, and if Mexico was my brother I would disown him.