Bush Vows to
Face 'Reality' of Mexican Migration
Oct 26, 2002
By Pav Jordan
LOS CABOS (Reuters)
- President Bush told Mexican President
Vicente Fox on Saturday that he wanted to
deal with the issue of migration from
Mexico "in a way that recognizes
reality," with about 3.5 million
Mexicans living and working illegally in
America.
But Bush offered no
specific solutions aside from suggesting
that job creation in Mexico could keep
Mexicans from crossing the border in
search of work.
Secretary of State
Colin Powell expressed hope that the
issue of migration from Mexico could be
placed back on the agenda next year,
after the Bush administration deals with
other issues, including the creation of a
proposed Cabinet-level U.S. homeland
security department.
"Ever since I
have been the president and Vicente has
been the president, we have had a mutual
desire to deal with the migration issue
in a way that recognizes reality and in a
way that treats the Mexican citizens who
are in the United States with respect.
And we will continue to work on this
issue," Bush said after meeting with
Fox on the sidelines of a summit of Pacific
Rim leaders in Mexico.
"What's
important is that we are both conscious
of these issues, and that we should deal
with them in such a way that permits
better conditions in the Mexican
countryside and in immigrant
communities," Fox said during a
joint news conference with Bush.
"In this there
is complete agreement, to create
opportunities here" so Mexicans are
less likely to enter the United States
illegally in order to make a living, Fox
added.
There are an
estimated 3.5 million Mexicans living and
working illegally in the United States,
and many of those arrived by way of
perilous treks across the 2,000-mile
U.S.-Mexico border.
At least 2,000
Mexicans have died in attempted border
crossings since 1995, when harsher
controls were imposed at traditionally
relatively safe border crossings in urban
areas, forcing migrants to take desert
and mountain routes.
Mexican officials
have expressed concern about the
conditions faced by some of these illegal
immigrants in the United States, and
supports access to certain social
services.
Bush said, "The
long-term answer for the migration issue
is to work in a way that encourages
commerce on both sides of the border so
people can find jobs here in Mexico, for
starters. That's the long-term
solution."
"In the
short-term solution, we've got to
recognize that wage differentials are
going to cause people to want to come to
the United States. And when they come to
the United States, we've got to make sure
they're treated with respect."
Powell, also
attending the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation summit, said he and Mexican
Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda would
meet next month to review what can be
done over the next year to address the
migration issue.
"With the
emergence of a homeland security
department, I think that some of the
concerns that Americans have and the
Congress has had with respect to
migration issues, we might be in a better
position next year to deal with their
concerns and to move forward with our
migration agenda," Powell said.
The bill to create a
U.S. homeland security department,
intended to protect the United States
better against terrorism, is stuck in the
U.S. Senate, as senators debate Bush's
demand for a free hand to hire, fire and
transfer workers within the department in
the name of national security.
"We hope that
as the effects of 9/11 pass and as we get
back to a more normal life, and as we
bring our homeland into a firmer basis of
security, we have a better idea of how to
protect our homeland," Powell said.
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