For the past couple days, Mexican President Vicente Fox visited Utah. He met with Utah business leaders, Gov. Jon Huntsman and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Throughout his visit he avoided talking in any depth about illegal immigration, instead focusing on building stronger economic ties between Utah and Mexico. Some leaders have chafed at this, but it could be seen as a step, albeit a small one, toward solving the immigration problem.
While the immigration bill moving through Congress right now may reduce the flow of illegal immigrants crossing the border, a far more effective solution would be to reduce the need of Mexicans to leave their country.
Mexicans, and illegal immigrants from other countries, come here largely because they aren?t able to support themselves and their families in their own countries. As the Mexican economy strengthens, more and more Mexicans will be able to build lives for themselves in Mexico and won?t need to risk their lives and livelihoods crossing the border.
Of course, none of this will happen over night and the economy is not the only factor contributing to illegal immigration. President Fox briefly addressed U.S. concerns about the corruption in the Mexican government and law enforcement agencies that contributes to immigration.
Much more needs to be said and done to eliminate that corruption. Most of it will have to be done in Mexico. There is not much the United States can do about it, and the Mexican government has a responsibility, not to us, but to their citizens, to purge itself of corrupt officials.
None of this should be interpreted as xenophobia or a lack of appreciation for the economic and cultural contributions immigrants make to the U.S. The editorial board recognizes U.S. dependence on immigrant labor. We welcome legal immigration.
As President Fox leaves Utah to visit Washington and California, we hope his trip will accomplish its goal of strengthening economic ties, so that more Mexicans will be able to support themselves without immigrating.
President Fox will probably not be able to avoid discussing immigration when he meets with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Maybe they will discuss other, more immediate solutions
