McCain Discusses Immigration in Mexico, Ends Free-Trade Tour


By Chris Hawley, USA Today
July 3, 2008

Article Excerpts:

MEXICO CITY -- John McCain was discussing the thorny issue of immigration Thursday with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, as the Republican presidential candidate wrapped up a three-day visit to Colombia and Mexico designed to promote free trade and burnish his foreign policy credentials.

John McCain visited Mexico's holiest Catholic shrine on Thursday as he tried to mend relations with a country frustrated by U.S. immigration policies.

Heavily armed police guarded the Republican candidate as he visited the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe, a sprawling complex of churches in Mexico City where Mary, the mother of Jesus, is said to have appeared to a Mexican Indian in 1531.

Some Mexican onlookers said that, despite McCain's attempt to push a sweeping immigration reform through Congress in 2007, they associated the Republican presidential candidate with other members of his party who have favored a hard line against illegal immigrants.

"Nobody here remembers" that McCain tried to pass an immigration reform bill, said Lucio Lopez, a 54-year-old videographer for television commercials.

"And besides, talking about immigration reform is like putting a rope around your neck in the United States," Lopez said. "It's not like he's going to be able to help our migrants if he gets elected."

McCain's Mexico City visit follows a two-day trip to Colombia, where the Arizona senator pledged continuing support for that country's fight against leftist rebels. On Wednesday, the government announced it had freed three Americans and 11 other hostages held by the rebels.

The trip is designed to showcase McCain's foreign policy credentials and highlight Mexico's economic progress under the North American Free Trade Agreement, which went into effect in 1994, as Republicans push for other trade deals in Colombia and Panama.

Mexico is generally a strong U.S. ally in the region, but conservative President Felipe Calderon has often expressed frustration over the plight over the millions of Mexicans living illegally in the USA.

Many Mexicans worry that their country has taken a back seat to Iraq and the U.S. economy during the campaign, said Raul Benitez, professor at the North American Studies Center at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

"There is a perception that McCain and (Democratic candidate Barack) Obama don't have any kind of policy toward Latin America," Benitez said.

At the basilica, McCain was accompanied by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Behind the basilica's massive altar, McCain laid a wreath of roses below an Indian tunic upon which many Mexican Catholics believe that Mary's image was miraculously imprinted during one of the visions.

McCain has expressed support for the Merida Initiative, a $1.4 billion U.S. aid package aimed at helping Mexico fight drug traffickers. Congress approved the first $400 million of the package last week.

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