Mexico’s Calderon urges immigration reform

During his visit to the White House today Mexican president Felipe Calderon continued his earlier criticism of Arizona’s recently signed immigration law. Via a translated transcript provided by the White House:

We can make it, if we continue building a safer border and if we transform it in a border that does not divide our peoples, in a land of opportunities and progress. We can make it, if we develop a comprehensive, fair and long term solution to the challenges that migration currently poses. I know that we share the interest in promoting dignified, legal and orderly living conditions to all migrant workers. Many of them, despite their significant contribution to the economy and to the society of the United States, still live in the shadows and, occasionally, as in Arizona, they even face discrimination.

For his part, U.S. President Barack Obama admitted that the controversial measure in Arizona arose from a “frustration over our broken immigration system.” He also pledged that he would tackle the much-delayed federal immigration reform yet warned that there may not be sufficient Congressional support.

Calderon’s state visit to DC will also focus on other issues including trade and increased drug-related violence in Mexico. These topics will likely be touched on when Calderon speaks at an upcoming joint session of Congress.

Image- CBS News
Online Sources- CBC, The Latin Americanist, Chicago Sun-Times, BusinessWeek, MSNBC