Fox Visits North Of The Border

Mexican President Vicente Fox arrived in California Thursday amid intense debate over immigration and as the U.S. Senate approved sweeping reforms that include tighter border security and a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.

Fox was to address a joint session of the Legislature and meet privately with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, their first meeting since the movie star became governor.

California is the last stop on Fox's three-state visit to the western U.S., following appearances in Utah and Washington. In Seattle, Fox said Mexico does not support illegal migration and must expand economic growth so its citizens do not feel leaving the country is a financial necessity.

"The 21st century is the century of migration," Fox said in English, speaking to the private Rainier Club in downtown Seattle. "Managing migration can be done, and can be done with a purpose and can be done to the betterment of the people involved in it."

The timing of the visit — as the Senate approved far-reaching immigration reforms — is awkward for the Mexican president, who has urged Congress to take a softer approach.

The bill passed Thursday in the Senate would build a triple-layer border fence along 370 miles and add U.S. Border Patrol agents, while giving millions of illegal immigrants a means of earning citizenship. A bill previously passed in the House has no citizenship provision and makes it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally.

Fox opposes President Bush's recent decision to call on governors to send 6,000 National Guard troops to the southern border to back up the Border Patrol.

Schwarzenegger has raised questions about Bush's plan, although on Wednesday he said he was prepared to go along with it as long as the deployment is temporary.

The illegal immigration issue has been a political land mine in California for a decade.

California has more illegal immigrants than any other state — 2.4 million according to a 2004 study by the Pew Hispanic Center. They work predominantly on farms, in construction and in the service industry, from hotels to restaurants.

Immigrants also are a major source of income to Mexico. Mexicans living in the United States sent home about $20 billion last year. And Latin American immigrants in California, the majority of whom are Mexican, send more money home than from any other state, more than $9.6 billion in 2004.

In addition, Mexico is the state's No. 1 trading partner, bringing in almost $18 billion in California exports last year. California's exports to Mexico directly or indirectly support 177,000 jobs, according to Schwarzenegger's office.

Earlier Thursday, Fox fielded suggestions and complaints from business leaders in Seattle, assuring them that Mexico will be a valuable part of free trade advancements on the continent.

Fox also tried to smooth worries about intellectual property rights and worker safety in his country. Mexico wants to be competitive with the U.S. — not a competitor against it, he said.
LAURA KURTZMAN