Calderon's message good but late

Published: 02.20.2008

Less than two years after taking office, Mexican President Felipe Calderon is getting mixed reviews from the Mexican people.

On the one hand, he gets high marks for reforming the tax system, fixing a massive public pension fund and launching a $25 billion public works initiative.

But he is also getting flak for not being vocal enough in protesting what many Mexicans see as the harsh and unfair treatment of their sons and daughters in the United States.

That is a fascinating turnabout. Not long ago, Mexicans were much too proud to think about the migrants who fled to the north searching for better opportunities.

Now they're demanding that their leaders go to bat for these expatriates against what they see as a cruelty born of American xenophobia.

And that's why Calderon last week conducted a whirlwind, five-day swing though the United States with stops in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles and Sacramento, Calif. Aides say the main purpose of the trip was to focus attention on the Mexican immigrant community in this country.

Mexico: Keep border door open

BY SAMANTHA YOUNG

Mexican President Felipe Calderón acknowledged tensions between the United States and Mexico over illegal immigration but stressed Wednesday that both countries have an interest in ensuring their citizens can cross the border legally and safely.

In an address to a joint session of the California Legislature, Calderón said the economies of the two countries are interdependent. For that reason, there must be ''shared responsibility'' for immigration on both sides of the border.

''I know that immigration is a controversial issue today in this great nation. But I strongly believe that Mexican and Mexican-American workers are a large reason for the dynamic economy of California,'' he said in prepared remarks.

``Our nations will never find prosperity by closing their doors.''

Calderón's trip to the United States -- his first as president -- has in large part been aimed at trying to reshape the immigration debate. He traveled to Massachusetts, New York and Chicago before arriving in California on Tuesday night, a state with strong economic ties to Mexico and its top trade partner.

Calderón urges better cooperation in tightening border

By Ed Mendel
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Getty Images
February 14, 2008

SACRAMENTO – Mexican President Felipe Calderón said yesterday that illegal immigration should be replaced with safe and legal migration, arguing that the California economy needs the labor.

In a carefully balanced address to the Legislature, Calderón also called for improved border security and outlined steps being taken to create more jobs in Mexico to reduce the need for migration.

The president also touched diplomatically on one of the main themes of his five-day tour of the United States: urging the protection of human rights as the United States tries to crack down on illegal immigration.

“I know that immigration is a controversial issue today in this great nation,” Calderón told the lawmakers. “But I strongly believe that Mexican and Mexican-American workers are a large reason for the dynamic economy of California.”

A clear case of do as I say, not as I do. -mm

Mexico objects to alleged border incursion over fire

Associated Press
Mar. 7, 2007 07:42 AM

MEXICO CITY - Mexico has sent a diplomatic note to the United States objecting to an alleged incursion into Mexican territory by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona trying to extinguish a fire, the country's Foreign Relations Department said Tuesday.

The incursion allegedly took place on Monday, as Border Patrol agents stationed in Sonoita were trying to quash a brush fire on the U.S. side that quickly spread into Mexico, the department said.

The Foreign Relations Department said it was notified of the incident on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, which reported that the border agents immediately returned to their side of the border after the fire was out.

Mexico sends U.S. diplomatic note over alleged border incursion

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico has sent a diplomatic note to the United States objecting to an alleged incursion into Mexican territory by U.S. Border Patrol agents trying to extinguish a fire, the country's Foreign Relations Department said Tuesday.

The incursion allegedly took place on Monday, as Border Patrol agents stationed in Sonoita, Ariz., were trying to quash a brush fire on the U.S. side that quickly spread into Mexico, the department said.

The Foreign Relations Department said it was notified of the incident on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, which reported that the border agents immediately returned to their side of the border after the fire was out.

The Embassy did not release a public statement Tuesday.