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U.S. Envoy Praises Bush State of The Union Remarks on Immigration

Ambassador Antonio Garza urges secure U.S.-Mexican border with "open doors"

The United States wants a secure border with Mexico, "with open doors," that is capable of allowing for trade between the two countries at legal entry points, says Antonio Garza, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico.

In a January 31 statement, Garza praised the comments President Bush made that evening during his State of the Union speech on immigration reform. Garza said Bush's comments showcased the U.S. desire for a border that allows Mexican workers to legally enter and work in the United States.

Garza said that "as recent weeks have demonstrated, border security and immigration are two of the most complicated and difficult issues in the great diversity of questions that arise in the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States." Garza was referring to violence in the border region that has increased "markedly" in the last several weeks. (See related article.)

The envoy said the Bush speech offered ways to improve the lives of citizens in both the United States and Mexico.

Bush said in his speech that the United States hears "claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy - even though this economy could not function without them." He added that the United States needs "orderly and secure borders" and can achieve them through stronger immigration enforcement and border protection and "a rational, humane guest worker program that rejects amnesty, allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally, and reduces smuggling and crime at the border." (See related article.)

Garza said that he has had several "very positive and what I think have been constructive discussions this week with members" of Mexican President Vicente Fox's administration "about ways our two countries can cooperate to achieve what is important to us both."

Regarding U.S.-Mexican relations, Garza said that in "any long-term and meaningful friendship, difficult discussions are inevitable. I have tried to speak openly and honestly these past few weeks about America's need for a secure border and legal immigration. It is important to remember in our discussions on immigration that efforts by the United States to stop illegal immigration do not amount to an attack on immigration as a whole."

Garza said "there is a common misconception that Americans are only thinking about security, and Mexicans are only thinking about immigration reform."

The truth, he said, is that the United States "derives much of its greatness from its tradition of welcoming foreigners to our shores - and Americans continue to welcome those who come to work in compliance with our laws. President Bush has so often said 'family values do not stop at the U.S.-Mexico border' - and we are eager to facilitate the entry of those Mexican laborers who come to the United States, with visas, to earn money to support their families."

Garza said Mexicans, just like Americans, "want to live in a peaceful and secure society where they do not have to fear for their safety or the safety of their children. Indeed, in recent months, Mexicans have taken to the streets to protest ever-increasing violence in its cities and along the border, and they want to see more done to fight criminals and break the chokehold that narcotraffickers and human-smugglers have on our border region."

The envoy said he was offering "any and all cooperation" the U.S. government can provide in combating narco-violence and "making our border region safe for our citizens, and I look forward to working closely with the Mexican people to achieve our common goals."

Source: U.S. Department of State