Fences aren't the fix, Fox tells Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Kicking off a four-day, three-state tour, Mexican President Vicente Fox said Tuesday that his nation wants to be part of the solution in the immigration debate, not the problem.

"We don't set up walls, and that's not the way you're going to fix this situation," Fox said in Spanish to representatives of groups active in Utah's Mexican community. "It's not with fences that we are going to solve this problem."

There were cheers of "Viva Mexico" as Fox shook hands before leaving for an official dinner with Gov. Jon Huntsman at the governor's mansion.

The Mexican president is scheduled to arrive in Yakima this afternoon and attend meetings and a dinner hosted by Gov. Christine Gregoire in Seattle tonight. Fox has two events planned in Seattle on Thursday morning before heading to California, where his tour ends Friday.

Fox's U.S. visit comes as the Senate considers legislation to strengthen border security, authorize new guest-worker programs and give an eventual chance at citizenship to most of the estimated 12 million people already living illegally in the United States.

Utah, like many states, is divided on immigration. While Utah's largest minority population is Hispanic, there also is growing frustration about the wave of illegal immigrants entering the state.

Huntsman, a Republican, supports President Bush's plan to send as many as 6,000 National Guard troops to the Mexican border and says it's important for Fox to see firsthand the frustrations Western states feel when it comes to illegal immigrants burdening health-care and prison systems.

The Minuteman Project, which opposes illegal immigration, is planning protests at the Capitol, where Fox is scheduled to address a special session of the Legislature today.

"I'd like to see Vicente Fox tell his people to respect the law and come here legally," said Alex Segura, founder of the Utah Minuteman Project.

Earlier, at a lunchtime speech to about 500 business, civic and religious leaders, Fox stressed the need for greater cooperation between his country and the United States on such issues as trade, energy and security.

Fox also discussed his accomplishments during his six-year term, which ends this year, and promoted trade opportunities with Utah and the rest of the United States.

Working together, Mexico and the United States can improve the quality of life for citizens in both countries, he said.

"The future of North America must guarantee great competitiveness, greater regional security, greater availability of energy, greater trade exchanges and, naturally, a greater well-being for all of its inhabitants," Fox said.

Fox also spoke of the steps he has taken to strengthen the Mexican economy and the democratization of his country.