Mexican President condemns Arizona immigration law during White House visit

12:42 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 19, 2010
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
tgillman@dallasnews.com

WASHINGTON -- Mexican President Felipe Calderón, arriving at the White House for a state visit, wasted no time this morning criticizing Arizona's new immigration law.

He said the law -- which requires police in Arizona to demand documentation from anyone they suspect of being in the United States illegally -- will subject Mexican citizen to discrimination. Mexico is hoping the White House will initiate a federal court action to block enforcement of the law.

President Barack Obama welcomed Calderón and his wife, Margarita Zavala to the White House, festooned with Mexican and U.S. flags. There were military honor guards and schoolchildren cheering.

Obama vowed to work with the Mexican government to create job and fight drug cartels, and to “ensure that our common border is secure, modern and efficient, including immigration that is orderly and safe.â€