WASHINGTON — Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s appearance Thursday before a joint session of Congress dramatically illustrated — and possibly reinforced — the partisan divide that’s stymied progress on immigration legislation.
In his 40-minute address, Calderon sharply criticized Arizona’s tough new immigration law and the United States’ refusal to ban assault weapons, which are being used in the violent drug-gang shootouts in Mexico.
Afterward, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Calderon “crossed a line” by urging changes in gun policy, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who is become a hard-liner on curbing illegal immigration, declared, “I’ve never heard of another country’s president coming here and criticizing the United States like that.”
Democrats were more supportive.
“I don’t know what the protocol is, but I don’t think he crossed any line,” said Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz.
A Democratic plan unveiled April 29 would create a path to citizenship for most of the estimated 11 million people who are in this country illegally now and would provide stronger security along the U.S.-Mexican border. The security features are aimed at wooing Republicans, who’ve said that security is their top priority.
But with congressional elections less than six months away, there’s been no movement toward compromise, and the bill is expected to get little traction in the current Congress.
Instead, it has become one of the most divisive, most partisan issues lawmakers confront, and Calderon’s visit to Washington, which included talks Wednesday with President Barack Obama, has done little, if anything, to close the gap.
The schism was apparent Thursday, as so few Republicans showed up for Calderon’s address that four of the 7 1/2 Republican rows, about 40 seats, were filled largely by student pages.
“Gratifying” for president to receive ovations in U.S., but Mexico expects little to change
Mexican reaction to President Felipe Calderon’s speech to Congress was mixed. Commentators praised his rhetoric but noted it was clear the Mexican government, for all the warm receptions and applause, would get nowhere when it came to immigration reform.
“It is a gratifying feeling to see a Mexican president receive repeated standing ovations . . . and to hear from him such a strong speech,” Gabriel Guerra, a former Mexican diplomat and political analyst, said in a radio interview. “There is good chemistry between Calderon and Obama, and that’s a good thing. It does not solve the problems.” Los Angeles Times
