May 27 2003

A Group of Eight summit in France later on this week will be the setting for Mexican President Vicente Fox's attempts to revitalize immigration talks with President Bush. Prior to September 11, 2001, the two Presidents had expressed their intention to make the flow of Mexican workers to the U.S. more "safe and orderly". However, talks ceased after 9/11, and relations were further strained with Mexico's opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq.

While recognizing the U.S.' need to protect its borders, Fox has underscored that no terrorists have come from Mexico or have been Mexican. Fox advocates the legalization of 4 million illegal Mexican immigrants already living in the U.S., and some form of a "guest worker" program. Today, the San Jose Mercury News reported that Fox said that vast majority of Mexican immigrants travle to the U.S. with "a clear dream to work."

Fox's appeal comes after the tragic death of 19 illegal immigrants left in a sweltering tractor-trailor in Texas earlier this month. Fox cited this horrible tragedy to stress the urgent need for immigration reform.