Thread: Officials see renewed focus on border issues, relations

Officials see renewed focus on border issues, relations

Diana Washington Valdez
El Paso Times
Posted: 04/17/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

President Barack Obama, left, toasts with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon prior to a state dinner at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, Thursday April, 16, 2009.

President Obama made an official visit to Mexico prior to heading towards the Caribbean for the upcoming Americas Summit.

EL PASO -- Border experts agreed that President Barack Obama's first official visit to Mexico on Thursday was an important step toward renewing a strong relationship between the United States and its southern neighbor.

And though it took unprecedented drug violence to make it happen, border communities finally are getting the attention they deserve.

"President Obama's trip to Mexico provides the United States with a golden opportunity to strengthen our relationship with a valuable neighbor, trading partner and friend," said Chad Foster, chairman of the Texas Border Coalition and mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas. "The U.S. and Mexico share a common border, a common history and common economic interests.

The Texas Border Coalition includes mayors, county judges and economic development commissions that focus on issues affecting more than 2.1 million border residents.

Relations between Mexico and the United States had grown chilly during the administrations of President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox, first after the 9/11 attacks and later after Fox's refusal to send soldiers from his country to assist in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We had become more than distant neighbors. We had developed a rupture in our diplomatic relationship," said Eduardo Borunda, a political science professor at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua State in Juárez.

Still, issues such as illegal immigration and drug and arms trafficking are lived out daily in El Paso and other border cities.

"President Obama has been focused on working to re- establish relationships with a number of foreign countries, including Mexico, which is Texas' number one trading partner, and it is a major reason we have not fared as poorly as other states during the economic downturn," said U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas, who was with Obama in Mexico City on Thursday.

"It's important we create a safe and secure border that allows for continued trade to prosper, and for our countries to work together. I hope Presidents Obama and (Felipe) Calderón can learn from each other and continue to nurture a healthy relationship."

Before Obama went to Mexico, a series of U.S. federal officials and lawmakers visited U.S. border cities. Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano toured the El Paso border and announced the appointment of a border czar.

"I believe the presidents are seeking more open relations between the two countries," said Socorro Tabuenca, a scholar with the UTEP Center for Inter-American and Border Studies, and who teaches at the University of Texas at El Paso. "Obama has provided a greater U.S. presence in Mexico than we ever saw under the Bush administration. I think both presidents, Cal de rón and Obama, are relatively young and have the futures of their countries in mind."

Jose Reyes Baeza, governor of Chihuahua state, which has felt the brunt of the drug cartel wars, flew to Mexico City to attend a dinner Thursday evening for the president and 100 prominent Mexican business and political leaders.

In a telephone news conference, Reyes Baeza said Obama's visit signaled a willingness to work closely with Mexican officials. "It's also a good moment to ratify our commitments to each other. We can collaborate with any country, while respecting each other's national sovereignty," he said.

Since 2008, nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Chihuahua state, most of them in Juárez. Officials attribute most of the deaths to warring drug cartels.

During the U.S. president's stay in Mexico, officials said, 15 people in the state of Guerrero were killed in a bloody firefight. More than 10,000 people have died violently since Calderón began a crackdown against drug traffickers two years ago.

The threat to security has prompted U.S. officials to step up border enforcement. For its part, Mexico has deployed thousands of soldiers to hot spots such as Juárez.

Other pending complaints between the two nations are the U.S. ban against Mexican trucks driving into the interior of the United States, and Mexico's retaliatory tariffs on 90 U.S. products for the trucking ban.

Danny Anchondo, a lawyer and chairman of the El Paso County Democratic Party, said a change in the U.S.-Mexico relationship was overdue. Since he became party chairman four years ago, he has met with 22 U.S. officials who have come to the border to learn about its problems.

"The relationship had been neglected by our former president for eight years," Anchondo said. "Building it up again is the first big thing that needs to happen.

"I think the security threat to the border has been exaggerated, but we do need to work with Mexico on immigration and the economy. If the Mexican economy does well, then we will be better off."

The White House issued a statement that also stressed a new direction for U.S.-Mexico relations: "The United States and Mexico are committed to a new approach in our bilateral relationship based on comprehensive engagement and shared responsibility."

Phil Jordan, an El Paso native and former Drug Enforcement Administration official, has praised Calderon's efforts to battle Mexico's violent drug kingpins.

"I hope this administration helps Calderón and doesn't take Mexico lightly," Jordan said.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12160633

Either Obama listens to the will of the American people and refuses Amnesty for the illegals or Obama will listen to the dictates of Socialist Mexico. I have a feeling that Obama will betray the American people once again, and grant Amnesty. I pray that I am wrong.

Mexico is not our friend. They export their problems, blame the U.S. for every bad thing that befalls them, and then demand money to kiss and make up.