SANTIAGO, Chile November 22, 2004
(Wire Services) - President Bush assured Mexican President Vicente Fox on
Sunday that he will press to ease U.S. immigration laws despite resistance.
Bush's plan would give legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants by letting them become temporary workers.
But Bush faces a battle in Congress, where the plan has languished because of opposition from both parties.
"I think it's important for our country to recognize that people are coming to our country to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said later. "I'm going to find supporters on the Hill and move it."
Since his re-election, Bush has conferred on immigration matters at the White House with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who could take the lead in Congress for the president, along Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
Bush said "reasonable immigration polices" would help secure the border. He also assured Fox "we want people from Mexico treated with respect and dignity."
Fox agreed to a spring Washington summit on immigration, security and economic development along the border.
Bush met with Fox in Chile at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Bush's plan would give legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants by letting them become temporary workers.
But Bush faces a battle in Congress, where the plan has languished because of opposition from both parties.
"I think it's important for our country to recognize that people are coming to our country to do jobs that Americans won't do," Bush said later. "I'm going to find supporters on the Hill and move it."
Since his re-election, Bush has conferred on immigration matters at the White House with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who could take the lead in Congress for the president, along Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
Bush said "reasonable immigration polices" would help secure the border. He also assured Fox "we want people from Mexico treated with respect and dignity."
Fox agreed to a spring Washington summit on immigration, security and economic development along the border.
Bush met with Fox in Chile at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
