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Bush wants mexicans to do americans low pay jobs { March 23 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/politics/23cnd-prexy.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/politics/23cnd-prexy.html
March 23, 2005
Bush Unveils New Pact With Mexico and Canada
By DAVID STOUT
WASHINGTON, March 23 - President Bush and the leaders of Mexico and Canada pledged today to work through their differences and toward more secure borders and easier, more profitable trade.
"I will continue to push for reasonable, common-sense immigration policy with the United States Congress," Mr. Bush said in Waco, Tex., appearing with President Vicente Fox of Mexico and Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada.
Mr. Bush went on to say, in remarks meant especially for President Fox, that he would continue to push for compassion as well as practicality in the United States' dealings with Mexico on border issues.
In other words, Mr. Bush said, "if there is a job opening which an American won't do," a Mexican ought to be able to cross the border into the United States, work, and then go home.
On the other hand, Mr. Bush said, as he had before, that participants in the "worker program" should not be able to leap-frog over those Mexicans who had applied for United States citizenship and were waiting patiently in the bureaucratic line.
Mr. Fox, speaking through an interpreter, said immigration had been discussed "as a trilateral issue," and that the three leaders had spoken of promoting "quality of life" in their respective countries, as well as border security.
President Bush acknowledged the need for tightening the nation's borders beyond the concerns of simple illegal immigration.
"There are some million people a day crossing the border from Mexico to the United States, which presents a common issue, and that is, how do we make sure those crossing the border are not terrorists or drug runners or gun runners or smugglers?" Mr. Bush said.
Without offering specifics on how he would ensure that, the president said that "I will continue to push for reasonable, common-sense immigration policy with the United States Congress," though he emphasized that it is Congress, not the White House, that enacts immigration law and that he could not guarantee that it would adopt administration proposals.
Asked about American groups conducting private patrols along the Mexican border region in an effort to deter illegal immigration, President Bush responded that "I'm against vigilantes in the United States of America."
"I'm for enforcing law in a rational way," he said. "It's why we've got a Border Patrol, and they ought be in charge of enforcing the border."
Prime Minister Martin told listeners at Baylor University that economic cooperation among the three countries was more vital than ever.
"We represent three sovereign nations that have formed one of the most successful partnerships in the world," he said.
"That being said," he went on, "we also recognize that we cannot be complacent. The world is not standing still. New economic powerhouses such as China and India are arising."
Mr. Bush said he looked forward to having Mr. Fox and Mr. Martin at his ranch for lunch and more friendly discussions. And despite the friendly atmosphere, the three countries continue to have their differences. Mexico and Canada were against the United States' war against Iraq, for instance.
And Prime Minister Martin alluded pointedly to Canadian resentment of American fears over mad cow disease north of the border, fears that he has said are unfounded.
"We look forward to the day in the future when, notwithstanding all of the lobbying, all the legal challenges, all of North America is open to our safe and high-quality beef," he said.
Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
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