Jarhed
03-17-05, 11:44 AM
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Fox ridicules U.S.-Mexican border walls
By UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Published March 17, 2005
MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Vicente Fox has denounced border walls the United States is building to stem illegal immigrants, the Washington Post reports.
"No country that is proud of itself should build walls ... it doesn't make any sense," Fox told a Mexico City news conference. "We are convinced that walls don't work."
He said it was impossible for Mexico to post military or police patrols along the entire border to prevent crossings.
"We can't keep them against their will by force," he said.
Last month, the U.S. Congress voted to waive environmental regulations and allow completion of a fence along the border south of San Diego.
Fox made the remark in advance of next week's meeting with President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in Crawford, Texas, where immigration issues will figure prominently.
Fox said the group would discuss ways to expand the success of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which went into effect in 1994. Some critics claim the pact has done little to alleviate poverty in Mexico, but Fox said Mexico's per capita income has doubled since 1995, from $3,100 to $6,505.
Fox ridicules U.S.-Mexican border walls
By UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Published March 17, 2005
MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Vicente Fox has denounced border walls the United States is building to stem illegal immigrants, the Washington Post reports.
"No country that is proud of itself should build walls ... it doesn't make any sense," Fox told a Mexico City news conference. "We are convinced that walls don't work."
He said it was impossible for Mexico to post military or police patrols along the entire border to prevent crossings.
"We can't keep them against their will by force," he said.
Last month, the U.S. Congress voted to waive environmental regulations and allow completion of a fence along the border south of San Diego.
Fox made the remark in advance of next week's meeting with President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in Crawford, Texas, where immigration issues will figure prominently.
Fox said the group would discuss ways to expand the success of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which went into effect in 1994. Some critics claim the pact has done little to alleviate poverty in Mexico, but Fox said Mexico's per capita income has doubled since 1995, from $3,100 to $6,505.