Obama to tread lightly on immigration in Mexico

(CBS News) President Obama is set to leave on a three-day trip to Mexico and Central America, focused on security, trade promotion, and strengthening relations with with Mexico's newly elected president, Enrique Nieto. While discussion of immigration is not expected to dominate his trip, Nieto and Obama will likely discuss their goals for reform.

The leaders broadly share priorities when it comes to immigration, namely creating guest worker programs and legitimizing the millions of Mexicans currently living illegally in the U.S.

And, as the fight over immigration reform continues in Congress, the White House is anxious to pass immigration legislation to successfully fulfill one of the dominant items on the administration's second-term agenda.

Mr. Obama will have to address immigration issues in Mexico and enlist President Nieto's support without disrupting the ongoing bipartisan efforts on Capital Hill, CBS News' Bill Plante reports.

Nieto and Obama broadly share similar goals when it comes to immigration, namely 

Mexican migration to the U.S. is currently at its lowest level in 40 years, in part due to Mexico's rapidly growing economy. Both presidents are expected to touch on strengthening Mexico's economic growth as a critical factor in curbing illegal immigration to the U.S.

Mr. Obama will deliver a speech to Mexican entrepreneurs on Friday before traveling to Costa Rica attending a series of meeting with Central American leaders.