2008 Woodie Awards
Fox addresses immigration, drug trade
Mark Norris, Editor In Chief, mnorris@smu.edu
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: News
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An overflowing crowd greeted Fox in the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom for the Turner Construction Student Forum, and his responses drew frequent applause.
The former president addressed questions about issues ranging from immigration to foreign policy.
"I don't understand policies of building walls and separating people," Fox said. He said he is surprised that the United States has decided to construct a border fence. Fox said fences and walls have not worked for Germany or China in the past, and he does not believe it will be effective for the U.S.
Fox said the U.S. would be better off investing the fence money in a fund to generate jobs in Mexico and Latin America. He said North American companies are becoming NAFTA corporations and if the U.S., Mexico and Canada work together, then the immigration issue would solve itself.
Fox said the Mexican government has been working on legislation and reforms to have its citizens stay in the country. He cited recent bills that allowed for $1 million worth of scholarships to be handed out to deserving students. Even though Mexican universities are free, the money allows students' families to survive financially while they are at school studying. Fox said the initiative would keep Mexico's brightest in the country.
Fox also suggested that it would be in the United States' best interest to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible. He thinks the Iraqis should be responsible for themselves.
"There comes a point where you can't intervene or educate anymore," he said of the current situation.
Fox cited Mexico's increased international profile as one of the biggest changes during his term. He said he moved the country from a policy of non-intervention to one that actively defends human rights. He said Mexico has become more involved diplomatically through the United Nations and various U.N. committees.
Several audience members queried Fox about the increased amount of drug-related violence along the border states during his term. Fox said that his administration was slow to react because he had a hard time getting his legislation and actions passed through the Mexican Congress.
"I will be the first to admit we did not achieve our objectives," Fox said. He cites Mexico's location between the largest drug producers and the largest drug consumer as the biggest problem, along with the fact the cartels have promoted consumption by Mexicans.
He said progress has been made in the past year and emphasized new President Felipe Calderon's No. 1 priority is the drug trade.
While in Dallas, Fox also spent time raising money for his presidential library. While such libraries are common in the U.S., it would be the first one ever for a Mexican president. It would be located on Fox's ranch in San Cristobal. Fox has said the library would hold nearly 4.5 million presidential documents and 15,000 hours of video from his time in office.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Jokufuji Nakamura
posted 2/28/07 @ 3:52 PM CST
No to a Communist North American Union. Yes to enforcement of our immigration laws. Seal the border. That should solve Mexico's problem of being between the largest drug producers and so-called largest drug using country. (Continued…)
Tim
posted 2/28/07 @ 4:17 PM CST
Instead of raising money for a library to chronicle his failed presidency, why doesn't this obviously intelligent and charming man use his influence to improve his nation. (Continued…)
Bobby
posted 2/28/07 @ 5:03 PM CST
Actually, I wanted to say many things about the President of Mexico, Bush's buddy speaking at a U.S. university. But I have become tired of commenting on this stuff. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 6/05/07 @ 8:55 AM CST
Today we have to stop the immigrants from crossing illeagally. This today is allowing more drugs to enter making this country worse. I say we put a 367ft wall between mexico and the united states. (Continued…)
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