Fox seeks pact with U.S. on immigration

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, SEPT. 6. The President of Mexico has challenged the Bush administration to a pact on immigration by the time the year comes to a close, a highly contentious issue in this country.

``We must and we can reach an agreement on migration before the end of this very year', Mr. Vincente Fox said at a grand White House ceremony.

Senior administration officials were somewhat taken aback by the sentiments of the visiting leader but managed to put on a show of being ``aware'' of Mr. Fox's expedited timetable for as many as three million illegal immigrants from his country.

Prior to the arrival of Mr. Fox, administration officials were talking about the ``complexities'' of the immigration issue and in the process giving the impression that an agreement on the subject may be several months down the line, perhaps closer to 2004 when the next Presidential election is due.

Senior Bush administration officials were not easily taken in by the time-frame given by Mr. Fox. ``I cannot forecast an exact time. But I can tell you it is a matter of priority'', the Attorney General, Mr. John Ashcroft, remarked at the White House on Wednesday.

On Capitol Hill and in other quarters there are differing perceptions on the immigration issue with many posing the question how this administration can give priority to people living illegally in this country as opposed to an applicant for immigrant status who has done so legally and lawfully. To this line of argument comes the view that respect for the law must go hand in hand with respect for dignity.

Mr. Fox has called for the need to recognise the value of migrants as ``human beings and workers whose hard work is a daily contribution to the prosperity'' of the United States. But law makers are asking how legalisation of those who are at present illegal residents would match the President's talk of ``fairness''.

In fact, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dennis Hastert, is saying that the granting of a ``guest worker'' programme for illegal Mexicans was ``doable'' but something difficult to reconcile with Mr. Bush's fairness pledge. The immigration issue has assumed priority and a high profile in the United States' relations with Mexico even if other issues such as crime and drug trafficking have not been pushed to the back burners.

Politically, the argument is being made that both Republicans and Democrats stand to gain if three million Mexicans are legalised and enter the electoral process in time for the next election in 2004 if not earlier. But some make the point that the White House is not too sure that there is much to be gained electorally by legalising Mexicans as a good majority is bound to vote for the Democrats.

If there lack of a great of enthusiasm for the topic on Capitol Hill, it is not without good reasons. In the first place, law makers are being asked why it is only Mexicans are being singled out when there are thousands of others from Latin America who are staying in this country illegally. Furthermore, leaving aside the ``fairness'' pledge of the President if the administration is considering immunity for illegals, why confine the group to only the Latin American continent?

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Section  : International
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