Thread: Mexican President Visit To Chicago Tinged With Controversy

Mexican President Visit To Chicago Tinged With Controversy
Calderon Meets With Mayor, Governor
POSTED: 6:40 pm CST February 12, 2008
UPDATED: 7:12 pm CST February 12, 2008

CHICAGO -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon came to Chicago on Tuesday, where he addressed a large crowd at a Little Village high school and briefly met with Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Calderon also met with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, signing a memorandum strengthening the educational ties between Mexico and Illinois, NBC5's Natalie Martinez reported.

Calderon's visit did not come without some controversy, Martinez reported, as protestors from several local unions, including the steelworkers' union, gathered outside the school to call on Calderon to treat of coal miners in Mexico better before asking for justice for immigrants.

"In Mexico, he wants to bust the unions, and he doesn't want safety and health in the mines," said one protestor. "The Steelworkers' Union is here to support them."

Calderon, who addressed a crowd at Little Village High School in Spanish, said he does understand the problem at the borders, adding that he understood there was pain involved risking one's life for a better life in America. Calderon also told the crowd that he wanted to make Mexico a place Mexicans would not want to leave, and wanted a safe border for both Mexicans and Americans.

The United States and Mexico need to be united to prosper, he told the crowd in Spanish.

"It is not by closing our borders or canceling our commerce treaties that we can prosper together. We want to build bridges because it is bridges not walls that unites people," Calderon said in a quote translated by a Spanish-speaking journalist.

Calderon also said he doesn't want people to leave Mexico because it drains the country of some of its best and bravest citizens.

Calderon also told the crowd that the fee that Mexicans pay for passports going to Mexico would stop, adding that he wants the money to stay in the Mexican consulate.

Visitors said they were happy to hear about Calderon's concerns, Martinez reported.

"My parents were immigrants when they came in," said one woman. "They're legal residents now, and they have been very successful. The immigration issue is very important for my family."

Calderon was in Chicago as part of his first trip to the U.S. as Mexico's president. He met privately with Daley and Blagojevich before addressing more than 1,000 members of the city's Mexican community at an invitation-only event at Little Village High School.

Calderon came to Chicago after first visiting New York and Boston. He was headed next to California.

Calderon wants American lawmakers to let more Mexicans live and work legally in the United States and he has told Mexican consuls here to work harder to promote the positive contributions of immigrants.

But an illegal Mexican immigrant who has taken sanctuary in a Chicago church to avoid a deportation order said Calderon's government should take a hard line to get immigration issues resolved.

"We call on the Mexican government to stop all negotiations with the United States about trade, investments, fighting the narcotics trade and security until there is a satisfactory resolution of the problem of the undocumented and their families," said an open letter from Flor Crisostomo.

She is the latest illegal immigrant to seek refuge in the Adalberto United Methodist Church. Another woman was deported last year after she left the church and traveled to California.

Calderon is not leaving Chicago empty-handed. He has a deal that will help Mexican restaurant workers and an agreement with the state to strengthen educational ties between Mexico and Illinois.

The City Colleges of Chicago, the Illinois Restaurant Association and Mexican education officials are working together to launch a certification program for restaurant workers.

Daley's office said it is a skills certification program similar to what's available in Mexico for a variety of jobs.

"Chicago is truly an international city and our membership relies heavily on a work force that is made up of immigrants from Mexico and all over the world. This certification program will enable our membership to save time and money on training," Sheila O'Grady, president of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said in a statement.

Calderon also takes with him a partnership agreement with the state to strengthen educational ties between Illinois and Mexico. It includes a visiting program for Mexican teachers.

Concepcion Martinez, a Chicagoan who came to the U.S. from Mexico 35 years ago, said immigrants who come to the United States want to, and do, contribute.

"I believe we count in this country," Martinez said.
http://www.nbc5.com/news/15285912/detail.html

I want to strengthen the education ties. Send Mexico a bill for ESL classes. Too bad the Communist didn't get elected in Mexico becuase no one would be allowed to leave the country.

Dixie

We call on the Mexican government to stop all negotiations with the United States about trade, investments, fighting the narcotics trade and security until there is a satisfactory resolution of the problem of the undocumented and their families," said an open letter from Flor Crisostomo.

The bravado and ignorance these people continue to exhibit on a daily basis will never cease to amaze me.

A "negotiation' is where both sides bring something to the party and a resolution is reached that would seemingly benefit both parties.

Mexico does not "negotiate." Mexico demands, blackmails, threatens, lies, and engages in many other dishonest tactics to get what they want.

They should all be rounded up and deported immediately!

It's so odd how leaders of Mexico (and some of their citizens for that matter) can come in here with their 'demands.' Somebody somewhere must have something on Bush because it's mind boggling how they can get away with this.

The United States and Mexico need to be united to prosper, he told the crowd in Spanish.

In the United States you speak to me In English.......WE SPEAK ENGLISH HERE!!!!!! NOT SPANISH!!!YOU BRIDGE NO GAPS...TALK TO NO OTHER PEOPLE BUT YOUR OWN. YOUR ARE AS WE SAY...PREACHING TO THE PREACHER.....NOT TALKING TO ANY ONE ELSE.

yOU WANT TO TALK OR SPEAK TO ME?
SPEAK ENGLISH.........NO HABLE ESPANOLE. OR HOW EVER IT'S SAID OR SPELLED. THATS THE POINT. WE ARE A NATION OF 220 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND 1 COMMON ONE. LEARN IT, SPEAK IT....OR GO BACK TO MEXICO.

before addressing more than 1,000 members of the city's Mexican community at an invitation-only event

Stacked Deck?

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

before addressing more than 1,000 members of the city's Mexican community at an invitation-only event

Stacked Deck?

I've been reading some of his planned stops in Ca, such as a winery, are by private invitation also.

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-2952--0-0.html

This man is prancing around in this country meddling in our government's business and not a word said by the folks in Washington. He acts as though his people that are here in this country illegally have every right to be here. This present government is nothing more than a JOKE! This should not be allowed here or anywhere else. Mexico is controlling the United States Of America and getting away with it. They are just having their way here in the great U.S.A. This is shameful on the part of Washington,D.C.

Originally Posted by LadyStClaire

They are just having their way here in the great U.S.A. This is shameful on the part of Washington,D.C.

Shame...in Washington DC...is that possible?