Mexico's Calderon Rips Border Wall Plan

Mexican president-elect Felipe Calderon, bottom left, speaks during his visit to Mexico's presidential residence of Los Pinos in Mexico City, Mexico, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, in front of members of his transition cabinet. Cabinet members are, first row from left, Juan Camilo Mourino, Josephina Vazquez, Ernesto Cordero, and Cesar Nava. Top row members are, from left: Eduardo Sojo, Gerardo Ruiz, Juan Molinar, and Max Cortazar. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull - AP)

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon on Monday slammed U.S. plans to build more fences on its southern border, saying it would not solve illegal immigration.

"We are worried ... about the actions that the United States is discussing concerning building a border wall and tightening restrictions on migrants," Calderon said after meeting with Mexico's foreign secretary.

The U.S. Senate is debating legislation to build 700 miles of fence on the U.S.-Mexico border along with other security measures, which the House has already passed.

President Vicente Fox, of Calderon's conservative National Action Party, has called the plans "shameful" and said the fence would be like the Berlin Wall. Calderon succeeds Fox on Dec. 1.

There are an estimated 11 million Mexicans in the United States, about half of whom are illegal. Last year, Mexican migrants sent home more than $20 billion in remittances.