Calderon: Current Mexican President

Summary of what the Mexican President Felipe Calderon was seeking to achieve in the 2005-2007 debates •The current president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon is adamantly opposed to the creation of a wall on the US-Mexico border. •Calderon believes strongly that Mexican citizens who cross the border illegally deserve dignified treatment and has created the organization Repatriación Humana to this end •Calderon has lauded the United States Senate for its more enlightened approach toward immigration reform, in contrast with that of the House of Representatives •Calderon has frequently stated that immigration is a “fact of life” and that the US approach towards it is deeply flawed •He has also stated his firm belief that a guest worker program would be economically beneficial and would replace illegal immigration

The positions of President Calderon that are addressed in 2005-2007 US immigration legislation

• H.R. 4437

– Calderon has called the building of a wall along the border a “medieval” approach to immigration control because it completely misses the point in trying to find a solution to the immigration problem

– Calderon expressed anger at the idea of Mexicans being considered criminals just for trying to support their families and denounced the criminalization of those who aid the undocumented workers

• S. 2611

– Calderon strongly supports a plan for legalization for undocumented Mexicans in the United States

– Calderon strongly supports a guest worker program. The six year plan of this bill would have been met with the support of the Mexican president

• S. 1348

– Calderon’s call for legalization and fairness are echoed in S. 1348, with the Z Visa and DREAM Act

– This bill includes a limited guest worker program as well which is also supported by Calderon