Thread: Mexico to Lobby Bush Against Fence Bill

Mexico to Lobby Bush Against Fence Bill
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ ... TE=DEFAULT
By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO
Associated Press Writer


MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico said Friday it will try to persuade President Bush not to sign a bill that would extend a wall along the border in an effort to stop illegal immigrants.

Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez strongly criticized the legislation to build a 700-mile border fence, which the Senate approved Friday and sent to Bush to sign.

Derbez said Mexico will send a letter to the U.S. government strongly condemning the measure. Asked by a reporter if the government would try to "dissuade" Bush from signing the bill into law, he replied, "Without a doubt."

"We have pointed out in a clear and unequivocal way that it seems unnecessary to us and seems wrong," Derbez added. "We think it is a gesture that doesn't reflect the friendship between nations of Latin America and the Caribbean and the United States."


Congress has abandoned Mexico's top priority: an immigration accord that would have allowed more Mexicans to work legally in the United States. Bush had proposed a temporary worker program that would have given three-year work visas to those with jobs lined up in the U.S.

Instead, U.S. lawmakers have focused on increasing security along the border. The House of Representatives and Senate have maneuvered to speed construction of the double-layer fence along the U.S. southern border aimed at keeping migrants and criminals from entering the country illegally.

Derbez's remarks came a day after his office issued a statement saying the border fence would harm relations between Mexico and the United States. The Foreign Relations Department said that only comprehensive immigration reform would stop millions of Mexicans from sneaking across the border into the U.S.

"A partial measure that is exclusively focused on security does not deal with reality and represents a political answer rather than a viable solution," it said in the statement.


There are an estimated 11 million Mexicans in the United States, about half of whom are illegal. Last year, Mexican migrants sent home more than $20 billion in remittances, providing Mexico with its second biggest source of foreign income after oil.

Originally Posted by vegasvic

Derbez's remarks came a day after his office issued a statement saying the border fence would harm relations between Mexico and the United States. The Foreign Relations Department said that only comprehensive immigration reform would stop millions of Mexicans from sneaking across the border into the U.S.

"A partial measure that is exclusively focused on security does not deal with reality and represents a political answer rather than a viable solution," it said in the statement.

Uh, dude? Don't you think sending your rapists and murderers into our country to screw us out of jobs and welfare kinda satisfies that "harm relations between Mexico and the United States" thing?

Oh ya, by the way, we are not really the suckers you think we are. We have already caught onto the fact that anything with the word "comprehensive" in front of it means "Good for Mexico, bad for the US".

Like we going to go: "Look Marge! It has the word "comprehensive" in front of it! Let's vote for it, because, by golly, if it's COMPREHENSIVE it just has to be good!"

if he doesn't sign it then we know what country he cares about.

Derbez said Mexico will send a letter to the U.S. government strongly condemning the measure. Asked by a reporter if the government would try to "dissuade" Bush from signing the bill into law, he replied, "Without a doubt."

The nerve. It's unbelievable.

Dragons5, do me a favor. Don't talk like that. You're scaring me.

Besides, Mexico cannot override the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, and the American people and the president.

No way !!! How dare them to even try.

The Mexican government needs to tend to Mexico.
I think we do have laws concerning interference by foreign governments in our domestic affairs.

Originally Posted by Newmexican

The Mexican government needs to tend to Mexico.
I think we do have laws concerning interference by foreign governments in our domestic affairs.

that is already happening with dual US/Mexican citizenship and ability to vote in both countries.
Moreover, even illegals are able to vote in many states since they don't require ID's at elections!

Wonder how this Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez would like receiving letters from legal Americans telling him to stay out of our business and tend to his own?