    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [May 4, 2006]
    [Pages 860-862]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Cinco de Mayo Celebration
    May 4, 2006

        Thank you. Please be seated. Bienvenidos. Welcome to the White
    House. I'm honored to have so many distinguished Hispanic and Mexican
    American leaders here for the Cinco de Mayo celebration. You may have
    noticed this celebration is not on the cinco de Mayo--[laughter]--it's
    on the quatro de Mayo. [Laughter] It's such an important holiday, we
    thought we would start early. [Laughter]
        I appreciate Hector; good to see you--
    head of the SBA is with us today. Gaddi Vasquez, thank you for coming. Thank you both for bringing--thank
    you for bringing your wife, Hector. I want to
    thank Anna Cabral, who is the
    Treasurer, and glad you brought Victor.
    Thanks for coming.
        I appreciate the Ambassadors who have joined us. Ambassador de
    Mexico is with us today--
    Embajador, gracias--y tambien, mi amigo, the Ambassador from the United
    States to Mexico, Antonio Garza.
    Welcome you both. Glad you're here. I appreciate Eduardo
    Aguirre, Ambassador to Spain. Thank you for
    coming, Eduardo--Hans Hertell, the
    Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Thank you all very much for
    coming. Thanks for serving the country, and thanks for serving your
    country, Ambassador, as well.
        I appreciate the military personnel who are here today. We're proud
    of you. Thanks for wearing the uniform of the United States of America.
        Before I introduce our entertainer, I do want to share some thoughts
    with you about the importance of Cinco de Mayo, for it commemorates a
    joyful moment in Mexican history. Americans must understand that it was
    a time when Mexican soldiers won the Battle of Puebla and defended their
    independence. So obviously,

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    Cinco de Mayo is a day of special pride for citizens of Mexico, but it
    is, as well, for Americans. It is a reminder of a proud heritage we
    share with our neighbor to the south. That's how I view the day.
        We pay tribute to that heritage, and we honor the warmth and
    importance of the friendship between our two nations. The United States
    and Mexico are united by ties of family and by commerce and by history
    and by culture and by values. Both nations believe in the rights and the
    dignity of all people. We share an important trade relationship. We have
    discovered that trade between our nations is good for our peoples. We
    believe in the ideals of freedom and independence that Cinco de Mayo
    represents.
        Here in the United States, Mexican Americans have helped build our
    country and helped shape our culture. Mexican Americans have made our
    Nation more vibrant and more hopeful cada dia. Mexican Americans have
    enriched the American experience with contributions to business and the
    arts and music and sports. Latino entrepreneurs are creating jobs across
    the country; the number of Hispanic-owned businesses is growing at three
    times the national rate. More Hispanic Americans own their homes than
    ever before in our Nation's history.
        Many Mexican Americans have also shown their devotion to this
    country by defending it. More than 600,000 of our veterans are of
    Mexican descent. I see some of our veterans back--I'm sure--we got a lot
    of veterans here, as a matter of fact. I want to thank you for setting
    such a good example for those who wear the uniform today.
        Many Mexican Americans are wearing the uniform of the United States
    military, and they're defending our country with valor. They're making
    America more secure and, at the same time, laying the foundation of
    peace for generations to come.
        I know our citizens have enormous pride in the Mexican heritage, and
    rightly so. We also know that America has thrived as a nation because
    we've always welcomed newcomers who, in turn, embrace our values and our
    way of life. Becoming an American is a great privilege, and it carries
    with it responsibilities. Those who come here to start new lives in our
    country have a responsibility to understand what America is about and
    the responsibility to learn the English language so they can better
    understand our national character and participate fully in American
    life. That's what we want. Making this effort is also key to unlocking
    the opportunities of America, allowing new folks to rise in society and
    realize the American Dream.
        In this country, we're now having an important debate about
    immigration. And it is really important that we discuss this issue in a
    way that is worthy of this country's best traditions. Our Nation does
    not have to choose between being a compassionate society and a lawful
    society. A lawful society is one that enforces its laws and enforces its
    border; that's what a lawful society does. A compassionate society
    rejects a system that treats people as if they're something to be
    traded, honors human rights and human dignity, helps people out of the
    shadows of society, treats people in a decent and humane way.
        So I support strengthening our borders, and I support a temporary-
    worker program that would match willing workers with American employers.
    See, I think we need to create a secure and legal channel for people to
    come to this country to work. It will reduce the number of people trying
    to sneak across our border. It will treat people humanely. It will get
    rid of the coyotes and the document forgers. It will affirm our belief
    that every person has got dignity and every person has got value, and at
    the same time, it will make it easier for us to be a nation of law and
    to protect our border.
        Immigration reform needs to be comprehensive because all elements of
    this problem must be addressed together, or

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    none of them will be solved at all. The American people must conduct
    this debate with dignity. They must remember that we're a nation of
    immigrants. They must understand--they must remember that throughout our
    history, people have come to America because this is a place where they
    can pursue their dreams no matter who they are or where they're from.
        Mexican Americans have brought with them a culture based upon faith
    in God, a deep love for family, and a belief that hard work leads to a
    better life. Every immigrant who lives by these values makes the United
    States a better country, makes our future brighter as one nation under
    God.
        Across America tomorrow, there will be many celebrations of Cinco de
    Mayo. The performances we're going to see today represent some of the
    very fine talent. It reminds us that we're a nation that is strong
    because of our diversity. There's going to be a lot of traditional
    music, a lot of pretty good Mexican food too, I bet you. [Laughter] Kind
    of reminds us of Texas, doesn't it, Ambassador?
        May God continue to bless all of us who are fortunate enough to live
    in this land, and may God continue to bless our country and the many
    sons and daughters of Mexico who call our Nation home. Happy Cinco de
    Mayo. And now it is my pleasure to introduce one of Mexico's great
    talents, Graciela Beltran.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:57 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Robin Barreto, wife of Small
    Business Administration Administrator Hector V. Barreto, Jr.; Victor G.
    Cabral, husband of Treasurer of the United States Anna Escobedo Cabral;
    Mexico's Ambassador to the U.S. Carlos Alberto de Icaza Gonzalez; and
    entertainer Graciela Beltran of Mexico. The Office of the Press
    Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.