September 28, 2007

Calderon makes demands; Mexicans have "right to work" in U.S.; admits harm to Mexico of emigration

From this:

Mexican President Felipe Calderon told U.S. governors Thursday that immigration is an inevitable, natural phenomenon and he urged the U.S. Congress to approve reforms that would allow more Mexicans to work legally north of the border.

Calderon demanded that the United States respect "the right to work wherever one can make the greatest contribution."

"Immigration is a natural phenomenon that is economically and socially inevitable"...

In a rare acknowledgment of the costs of migration for Mexico, Calderon said his country "doesn't not celebrate migration ... our best people are the ones who go."

The last is probably a good thing from the perspective of Mexico's leaders: the "best people" might press for change.

Richardson and Perry were absent, but never fear because the U.S. was ably represented by two of our super-tough politicians - including Janet Napolitano - who vehemently spoke out against Calderon's comments, nearly causing an international incident:

Describing his many visits to Mexico since his first one 40 years ago, [California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger] lifted a line from his movie "Terminator," quipping, "I always look forward to saying, 'I'll be back."

Well, maybe not. Of course, if there were fewer Mexican partisans in California and the U.S., it might make Arnie a little more comfortable about not being such a wimp.

And, from our Extreme Irony file:

[Eduardo Bours, governor of the border state of Sonora] also called for a crackdown on U.S. weapons that "cross the border all too easily." Calderon said weapons illicitly smuggled in from the U.S. had been responsible for killing dozens of Mexican policemen.

That's certainly a bad thing, but illegal aliens from Mexico have been responsible for tens of thousands of violent crimes here in the U.S.

Posted to Immigration2007b at September 28, 2007 09:13 AM