The foreign minister is in Washington this week to express in person his country´s unhappiness with a new U.S. immigration bill. Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick in Washington Monday to express in person Mexico´s displeasure over a proposal to build a wall along the two countries´ common border.
"The meeting served as an opportunity to review a variety of topics of common interest between the United States and Mexico, a strategic partner," said Zoellick.
The meeting, held at Zoellick´s home, was also attended by U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere Tom Shannon, and Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Carlos de Icaza.
Rafael Laveaga, spokesman at the Mexican Embassy, said the meeting was "very cordial."
"They spoke of Mexico´s position on immigration, as well as other regional topics, such as issues relating to Latin America," he said.
On Dec. 16, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that envisions building 700 miles of fences along the border with Mexico. It would also make illegal immigration a crime - it is currently a civil offense - and calls for prosecuting U.S. citizens who aid undocumented migrants.
The measure still must be approved by the Senate.
Derbez has made recent public statements in which he called the wall proposal "myopic" and "stupid."
Meanwhile on Monday, the Mexican Congress asked legislatures in Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries to join a coalition against the bill proposal.
The request was contained in a letter drafted by the speaker of the house, Heliodoro Diaz.
In his letter, Diaz expressed his respect for the legislative function of the U.S. Congress, but points out that the phenomenon of migration, for its social and economic effects, should be looked at in a comprehensive way within a bilateral framework.
"The aforesaid law, should it be approved, will result in highly negative effects for our countries, such as criminalizing migration, violating the human rights of migrants to that nation, exacerbating racism against minorities, and repudiating various agreements achieved through existing free-trade treaties," the document said.
Faced with a problem of this magnitude, said Diaz, the Standing Committee which represents Congress during recesses, has approved an agreement which describes as "racist, xenophobic and in violation of human rights" the U.S. measures.
