Not Everyone Was Happy with Mexican President's US Visit
Jim Kouri, CPP
May 29, 2006
Mexico's President Vicente Fox extended his gratitude to, and praise for, the US Senate for passing an immigration bill he termed "a monumental step forward".
The bill, if made law, would provide more than 12 million of illegal aliens with a path to eventual citizenship. However, it must be reconciled with a tougher bill passed in the House of Representatives.
Mr Fox, following a four-day trip to the US, said this was "a moment that millions of families have been hoping for".
Mr Fox said in an address to the California legislature in Sacramento late on Thursday: "This is the moment that millions of people have been working for."
"Today's historic vote is a monumental step forward, but we recognize that there is more debate ahead," he added during several speaking engagements during his US tour.
However, some California legislators were having none of it. They either boycotted his speech altogether, or they wore "No mas" (No more) badges in opposition to further illegal aliens from Mexico.
One southern California legislator, Todd Spitzer, said: "His country should be up in arms. He is responsible for splitting families and didn't make a dent in the problems during his six years in office."
"This guy [President Fox] is the head of one of the most corrupt governments in the world. Their military and police on the Mexico side of the border don't stop illegals -- they facilitate the human smuggling and drug trafficking," accuses Mike Baker, a political analyst.
"His economy is a shambles, yet he'll tell Americans his people [illegally in the US] are the backbone of the US economy. If that's true, why isn't Mexico an economic success story?"
On the website of the US Border Patrol union, Local 2544, agents wrote a letter to President Fox asking him to use his influence over President George W. Bush to beef-up border security. The tongue-in-check comment underscored their belief that Fox is calling the shots with regard to US immigration policy.
The bill, if made law, would provide more than 12 million of illegal aliens with a path to eventual citizenship. However, it must be reconciled with a tougher bill passed in the House of Representatives.
Mr Fox, following a four-day trip to the US, said this was "a moment that millions of families have been hoping for".
Mr Fox said in an address to the California legislature in Sacramento late on Thursday: "This is the moment that millions of people have been working for."
"Today's historic vote is a monumental step forward, but we recognize that there is more debate ahead," he added during several speaking engagements during his US tour.
However, some California legislators were having none of it. They either boycotted his speech altogether, or they wore "No mas" (No more) badges in opposition to further illegal aliens from Mexico.
One southern California legislator, Todd Spitzer, said: "His country should be up in arms. He is responsible for splitting families and didn't make a dent in the problems during his six years in office."
"This guy [President Fox] is the head of one of the most corrupt governments in the world. Their military and police on the Mexico side of the border don't stop illegals -- they facilitate the human smuggling and drug trafficking," accuses Mike Baker, a political analyst.
"His economy is a shambles, yet he'll tell Americans his people [illegally in the US] are the backbone of the US economy. If that's true, why isn't Mexico an economic success story?"
On the website of the US Border Patrol union, Local 2544, agents wrote a letter to President Fox asking him to use his influence over President George W. Bush to beef-up border security. The tongue-in-check comment underscored their belief that Fox is calling the shots with regard to US immigration policy.
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