Mexican President Vicente Fox
June 1,2006

PPE: President Fox. Thank you for your time today.

VF: You are welcome.

PPE: You recently concluded a trip to the Western United States, visiting governors, small businesses and farms along the way. How did that go?

VF: Very well. Americans are very welcoming people – kind and welcoming.

PPE: What did you find most enjoyable about your trip?

VF: I visited an apple orchard in Washington where most exports are to Mexico. It was clear how much our economies are connected.

PPE: Mexican lawmakers have threatened to sue in U.S. courts should immigration laws be strengthened against illegal immigrants. How do you feel about this?

VF: Basic human rights should be respected for all people. When we feel there is injustice, we need to act.

PPE: What do you feel is the best solution to the current illegal immigration crisis?

VF: What crisis? I don’t feel there is much of a crisis.

PPE: Over 70% of Americans disagree with you. They believe an underworld of undocumented people creates a class system in the U.S. that drains the public services system of too many taxpayer dollars.

VF: 70%? Did you ask the 15 million Mexican nationals in the U.S.?

PPE: You mean the estimated 15 million illegal immigrants?

VF: Of course.

PPE: No, they aren’t Americans – I said 70% of Americans feel this way.

VF: Just because they crossed a line in the sand doesn’t make them un-American!

PPE: Actually, yes it does. How do you define an American?

VF: Anyone that works, raises their family, and supports the economy of the United States is an American!

PPE: Even if they cross illegally?

VF: Yes.

PPE: Even if they steal a social security number in order to get a job and obtain loans?

VF: Yes.

PPE: Even if they stay hidden, don’t pay taxes, and choose not to assimilate like every other generation of immigrants has done?

VF: Of course.

PPE: I agree that 11-15 million illegal immigrants cannot simply be deported in short-order without doing substantial harm to the U.S. economy and creating a human rights crisis. But, don’t you think the border should be strengthened so we don’t add fuel to the fire and invite more and more illegals?

VF: Certainly not. A free market needs the free flow of labor.

PPE: Okay. How about the Mexican border with Guatemala. It’s estimated that over 100 people are shot trying to cross into Mexico every year.

VF: That’s different. Our troops protect us from Zapatista rebels trying to secede from Mexico. We need to protect our national sovereignty.

PPE: How is that different for the U.S. – Mexico border?

VF: There are no armed rebels crossing the border, only families trying to make a better life for themselves.

PPE: How do you know that?

VF: What?

PPE: Well, with limited border protection, nobody knows who’s crossing the border. There could be terrorists by the truckload – nobody knows. What we do know is that the drug trade is very heavy and armed drug gangs are arguably as bad as armed rebels.

VF: We will not support any attempt to stop the free flow of labor across the border.

PPE: Okay. I tell you what. I’m looking for a nice place to retire along the gulf coast. I plan on moving my extended family, along with some friends, to a small town in Mexico. We’ll just take it over.

VF: Excuse me.

PPE: Don’t worry. We’ll keep to ourselves. We will speak English, work wherever we can find a job, keep all our money in U.S. banks, and demand free medical care and schooling from the local government.

VF: You’re funny. That is very different.

PPE: How?

VF: There is no need for your labor – you won’t be doing us any service by moving to Mexico.

PPE: I see. So, as long as labor is needed – it’s all good?

VF: Yes.

PPE: Great. So, if U.S. unemployment rose to 10% like in France and Germany, you would be in favor of mass deportation to Mexico?

VF: No.

PPE: Well, the labor wouldn’t be needed any more.

VF: Sure it would. See if unemployment got that bad, U.S. working Mexicans would stop sending so much money back into the Mexican economy.

PPE: So?

VF: Well, that would tank our economy too since receipts from American made income represents the second largest producer for our consumer economy.

PPE: I still don’t get it.

VF: Well, if our economy tanks, 15 million illegals will become 50 million pretty damn quick. No money being sent to Mexican families means whole families move to the U.S. No matter how bad you've got it, we'll have it worse.

PPE: So, you’re threatening us?

VF: I’m just saying, it would be very very bad.

PPE: What’s the Spanish word for blackmail?

 

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