Bill Richardson opposes border "wall"; whose agenda is he promoting?

Yesterday, Texas' House and Senate approved House Resolution 853, a tribute to New Mexico governor Bill Richardson and his "brilliant career". No, really. Those of strong stomach can read it here.

During his acceptance speech, he said this:

"The [border] wall should be torn down... It's bad policy. It was done to get election votes... And the next president should not build it. I wouldn't build it."

He also went on to propose "joint border patrols" with Mexico, something that would lead to even more Mexican-style political corruption in the U.S.

Obviously, despite what both he and W. Gardner Selby of the Austin American-Statesman say, it's not a "wall", it's a fence.

More importantly, it's an open question as to whose agenda Bill Richardson was pushing. On whose behalf was he speaking? Just himself? The citizens of New Mexico? Or, others?

Last year, the OAS ("Organization of American States") named him as their Special Envoy to 'promote dialogue on issues... such as immigration and free trade' [1]. Member states of the OAS include the U.S. and Canada, but every other member state has a "people export" policy to the U.S., in particular Mexico. In his press conference, he also came out against building the fence, and the OAS also nearly passed a resolution opposing the fence.

Was Bill Richardson representing the OAS when he came out against the "wall"? It isn't entirely clear, and that's always going to be the case when dealing with people who clearly have divided loyalties such as Richardson.

[1] See nomoreblather.com/bill-richarson-registered-foreign-agent

Immigration2007a · Tue, 03/20/2007 - 10:47 · · Importance: 1