Fox: U.S. Can't Fix Immigration Alone

Mexican President Vicente Fox watches the International Children's Choir perform during an official dinner in his honor as goose Eliza Snow watches Fox at the Utah governor's mansion Tuesday, May 23, 2006, in Salt Lake City. Fox's wife, Marta Sahagun de Fox watches, foreground, with Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and his wife, Mary Kaye, sit at rear. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac, POOL) (Douglas C. Pizac - AP)

In a speech after their dinner, Gregoire said U.S. immigration reform should allow earned citizenship and a robust guest worker program along with secure borders.

Fox told attendees that Mexico does not support undocumented migration and that his country must expand economic growth so it is not necessary for people to seek work and benefits outside his country.

"Mexico believes that it will take more than just enforcement, building walls, to really solve the challenge posed by the migration phenomenon, and that comprehensive reform is in the interest of both nations," Fox said.

On Thursday, Fox is to attend a breakfast with business leaders in Seattle, visit a community health center, and have lunch with other business groups. He then heads to California to address lawmakers and meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Schwarzenegger said he would tell Fox that his government needs to do more to stop illegal immigration into the U.S.

He also stepped closer Wednesday to saying he would help carry out President Bush's plan to send National Guard troops to the border to back up the Border Patrol.

"I am prepared to commit the California National Guard troops in support of border patrol operations, but, as I said, it has to be on a temporary basis," Schwarzenegger said.

He said he wants the administration to commit to an end date and funding before he orders the deployment.

Fox told a special session of the Utah Legislature that the most pressing issue for U.S.-Mexico relations is immigration.

"One cannot underestimate the importance of this moment and how complex this issue is for our two nations," said Fox, speaking in English. "Since the beginning of my administration, the government of Mexico has promoted the establishment of a new system that regulates the movement of people across our border in a manner which is legal, safe and orderly."

Fox said his country does not support undocumented migration and that Mexico must expand economic growth so it is not necessary for people to seek work and benefits elsewhere.

Democracy cannot flourish unless there is economic freedom to support it, he said.

"Until recently, Mexico was trapped in a vicious cycle of economic crisis, recurring crisis. But we have set out to change that," he said. "Today, Mexico has the soundest, safest, most stable economy of our lifetime."

He said that 25 million impoverished Mexicans now have access to health, educational and nutritional support and that his administration has spent more on improving the lives of its residents than any other Mexican administration.

Fox said investing in education is vital to developing a robust Mexican economy that residents don't want to leave, and noted that about 1 million Mexican students are offered scholarships.

"I am absolutely convinced that those 1 million young (people) would have been trying to get to the United States to look for a job," he said.

Several dozen protesters gathered outside the state Capitol, waving American flags and carrying signs attacking proposals to offer illegal immigrants amnesty. The Minuteman Project, which opposes illegal immigration, organized the demonstration.

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Associated Press Writer Brock Vergakis in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.