Thread: Mexican leader seeks California aid on immigration

Mexican leader seeks California aid on immigration
Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:26pm EST
By Jim Christie

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb 13 (Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon urged California lawmakers on Wednesday to help his government address the volatile issue of illegal immigration in a way that will benefit both countries.

"We need to make migration legal, safe and organized," Calderon told the legislature of the most-populous U.S. state, whose large and fast-growing Mexican-American population figures prominently in debates over illegal immigration.

The question of what to do about the millions living in the United States without papers has been one of the hot-button issues in the U.S. presidential election, with Republican candidates in particular vying to demonstrate their toughness on the issue.

Calderon, who has expressed concerned about an atmosphere full of prejudice generated by anti-immigrant rhetoric, urged cooperation.

"We are at a historical turning point," said the conservative leader, on his first trip to the United States as Mexico's president. "Future generations will judge us by the decisions we make today. Did we work together to provide organized and humane migration or did we continue to allow hundreds to die each year?"

"The choice is not between migration and security or between migration and prosperity," he said. "The choice is between a future of integration and success for both or a future of distrust and resentment between us."

Many of those who attempt to sneak into the United States die in the rugged terrain along the border each year.

Calderon disputed contentions that Mexico is turning a blind eye to internal economic problems that spur its citizens to head north. "Migration carries off the best among us: our bravest, our youngest and our strongest people," he said.

Calderon urged California lawmakers to view Mexicans as assets to the economy, recalling the state's long historic ties with his country and guest-worker programs that tapped its labor from the 1940s through the 1960s.

"This lesson from our past shows us the way to forge a better future as partners," Calderon said.

Mexico was deeply disappointed at the U.S. Congress' failure to pass President George W. Bush's comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws in June. It is also angry with the United States for building a security fence on parts of the southern border to keep illegal immigrants from Mexico out.

Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines said California's Republican lawmakers, among the most vocal U.S. critics of illegal immigration, remain very concerned. But he said he appreciated that Calderon bluntly addressed illegal immigration in his first speech to the state legislature.

"He came and addressed an issue pretty square-on," Villines told reporters in the Assembly's chamber. (Editing by Patricia Zengerle)
http://www.reuters.com:80/article/lates ... SN13377163

Is he talkimg about the migration from south america into his country?The mexican government is very brutal to illegal immigrants coming into mexico taking jobs mexicans will not do.This is not a joke.

Isn't there some law that prohibits a foreign leader from addressing a US legislative body?

Calderon made no pretense what his goals are during his US tour. Is the Senate going to investigate his activites like the 'China Plan' during the 1996 election?

INVESTIGATION OF ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER ACTIVITIES
IN CONNECTION WITH 1996 FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
FINAL REPORT of the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SENATE Rept. 105-167 - 105th Congress 2d Session - March 10, 1998

PART 1 FOREIGN INFLUENCE

Chapter 2: The China Plan

In early 1997, news reports appeared alleging that U.S.
federal intelligence agencies had discovered an attempt by the
government of the People's Republic of China (``Chinese
Government'') to increase its influence in the U.S. political
process.1 From February through December 1997, the
Committee examined these allegations. The examination included
a consideration of both public and classified (``non-public'')
information...............

............It comes as no surprise that lobbying and promotional
activities of foreign countries in the United States have
increased in recent years. In 1992, the Justice Department
reported that Hong Kong interests spent nearly $80 million on
lobbying and public relations in the United States, with Japan
spending over $60 million, Canada $22.7 million, and Mexico
$1.5 million on lobbying for passage of the North American Free
Trade Agreement alone.29 By 1996, a summary of the
Justice Department figures showing that foreign interests spent
over $400 million on such activities in the first six months of
1996 alone.30
Despite the fact that China is the most populous country in
the world, the Chinese Government reportedly spent only
$450,000 on lobbying in 1991 and 1992. Chinese Government and
private companies together spent approximately $2 million in
the first half of 1996, only a fraction of the multimillion
dollars spent by other countries.31
Although many foreign governments and companies have
increased attempts to promote their interests in the United
States, they are forbidden by federal law to influence the
electoral process in the United States. Federal law bans (1)
foreign contributions to political campaigns and (2) campaign
expenditures paid for by foreign entities.32
A key issue raised in connection with the China Plan was
whether the Chinese Government had proposed or undertaken to
promote its interests in the United States by legal and proper
means, or whether its activities may have amounted to illegal
Chinese Government interference in the 1996 election process.

http://fas.org/irp/congress/1998_rpt/sgo-sir/4-1.htm

"When in Mexico the U.S. State Department reminds U.S. citizens to avoid participating in demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican authorities. The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation."
U.S. State Department

Calderon, who has expressed concerned about an atmosphere full of prejudice generated by anti-immigrant rhetoric, urged cooperation.

It's intellectually dishonest statements such as this which make it impossible to reason the proponets of illegal invaders.

How can we ever discuss this issue with these zealots when they will not even acknowledge the issue is about ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. In addition, they are so uncivilized the only argument they seem to rely upon is the prejudice against hispanics position. None of those positions are valid and only seek to distort the real issues here.

Calderon should have never been allowed to set foot in this country in order to spew such an agenda. Any of our elected officials who pandered to this guy should be viewd as suspect because they do not have the best interests of American Citizens at heart.