Powell Meets Mexico Envoy on Immigration

WASHINGTON (AP) September 6, 2004 - Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday after a meeting with Mexico's foreign minister that he believes progress may be possible in resolving long-standing differences with Mexico on immigration issues.

Powell said that at November meetings with Mexican officials, the United States plans to offer ideas that "will demonstrate to the Mexican people and to Americans that we are serious about resolving immigration issues.''

Powell's meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez also covered the administration proposal for a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq, a key element of which would be the creation of a U.N.-backed multinational force for Iraq under U.S. command.

Mexico, a Security Council member, generally supports the plan but has reservations.

Thursday's meeting occurred on the second anniversary of a White House state visit by President Vicente Fox, an event that brought U.S.-Mexican relations to new heights.

At the time, an immigration agreement seemed possible, but the issue was placed on the back burner six days later when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred. The United States' focus since then has been on enhancing security along the border to prevent terrorist penetration by that route. For some time, Mexico has pressed hard for a renewal of efforts to reach a migration accord.

Powell suggested that the administration was amenable but said only "small successes'' could be anticipated at the beginning. A bigger success may be possible, he said, when all interested parties are on board. Thus far, Congress has shown little interest in a comprehensive immigration agreement.

There are believed to be almost 4 million undocumented Mexican migrants in the United States. Mexico wants the United States to grant them legal status, but many in Congress believe that would reward people who broke the law.

With Powell at his side after a 40-minute meeting, Derbez noted to reporters that migration reform legislation is pending. "We may get results slowly but surely,'' he said.

One proposal before Congress would create a legal framework for so-called guest workers to come into the United States and then return home.

The bill was introduced by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and two Republican House colleagues from that state, Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake.

After a meeting Thursday with Derbez and other Mexican officials, McCain said President Bush is eager to see guest worker legislation approved.

He said the issue deserves urgent attention because Mexican workers need a safe means of entering the United States. He noted that 140 Mexicans have died in the desert between Mexico and the United States recently.

"That is a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later,'' McCain said.

Derbez and several Mexican colleagues also met with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who has a guest worker bill similar to that of the Arizona lawmakers. Cornyn and the Mexican officials discussed a new security enhancement proposal involving the rapid exchange of airline passenger lists between the two governments. It is designed to detect would-be troublemakers.