President of Mexico lauds bill

He cited the success of the small factories set up in Mexico along the border.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Mexican President Vicente Fox lauded President Bush and U.S. senators Friday for passing a comprehensive immigration bill that offers employment and citizenship opportunities, but said most of the credit should go to Mexican immigrants.
"Nobody deserved more credit than the ... paisanos here," he said, using the Spanish colloquial word for countrymen during a speech to the California Chamber of Commerce and Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "They have fought for it."
He offered his "most caring salute to all Mexicans here in the United States," whom he praised for their work ethic and loyalty not only to their new, adopted country, but to their families back home. "We really love them, appreciate them and respect them," he said. "We know about their dignity and pride ... and contributions to this country."
Fox spent the rest of his 15-minute speech touting his administration's economic achievements and attempting to entice the assembled business people to invest in Mexico.
In particular, he cited the success of the maquiladora -- foreign factories that set up shop in Mexico along the border to take advantage of the cheap labor pool. They'll create as many one million jobs this year, he predicted, at least 150,000 more than there are qualified applicants. That deficit must be addressed by beefing up education spending in Mexico, he added.
What was left out
But in his often rosy portrayal of his country's economic prosperity, Fox didn't address why hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants continue to enter the United States each year, nor the growing gap between Mexico's rich and poor.
Fox agreed to take questions from the audience, but reporters were hurriedly ushered out before the exchange began.
The Chamber members at Friday's breakfast were much more receptive to Fox than the Legislature was a day earlier, with the business people offering a standing ovation before and after his speech.
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