[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
[March 27, 2006]
[Pages 580-588]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Interview With Foreign Print Journalists
March 27, 2006
The President. Thanks for coming. I'm looking forward to going down
to Cancun. I'm very grateful for President Fox's
hospitality. I've never been to Cancun, but I've had a lot of friends
who have been to Cancun, and they tell me if I stay too long, I won't
return. This is a relatively quick trip. I'm looking forward to going to
the Mayan ruins, which will be really exciting. And I'm looking forward
to both bilateral and our trilateral discussions.
With Mexico, obviously, there's big issues, particularly immigration
right now. But I'll remind people that our relationship is more than
just the migration issue. Mexico is our second-largest trading partner.
The relationship with Mexico is a strong and vital relationship.
Obviously, not only do we have important trade equities, but we've also
got common values, and we've got millions of Mexican Americans who take
great pride in their heritage. And so Mexico has been and will be a
vital issue for future Presidents. And it's very important for us to
work on a relationship that has a foundation of mutual benefit as well
as openness and candor when it comes to dealing with difficult issues.
And I really value my friendship with President Fox. Obviously, we have been
[[Page 581]]
through a lot during my Presidency and his. We've agreed on things, and
we haven't agreed, but we've always remained friends, and that's a sign
of a vital relationship. I'm, obviously, aware that there is a political
season coming up, but until someone is sworn in office, my relationship
will be with Vicente Fox as the leader of our important friend to the
south. And I'm sure there's going to be all kinds of speculation about
whether or not the United States will be involved in the election, and
we won't be, pure and simple.
The relationship with Canada is also a vital relationship. Canada is
our largest trading partner. This will be my first meeting with the
Prime Minister as--with him as the Prime
Minister. Obviously, I met him in the past. I'm looking forward to it.
This will be the third Prime Minister with which I've dealt as the
President. I've had good relations with the previous Prime Ministers,
and I'm looking forward to good relations with Stephen Harper.
I'm fully aware of the relationship--the nature of the relationship
between Canada and the United States. One, it's a vital relationship,
but it's also one in which there is a certain skepticism about the
United States, and therefore, I will do my very best to find common
ground and to convince--through my relationship with the Prime
Minister, convince the people of Canada we
genuinely care about our friends and neighbors to the north and will
work to resolve different issues in an aboveboard way that is mutually
beneficial.
So it's an important meeting, and it's a way for us to confirm the--
and then, eventually, the three of us will get into a room to meet. And
it's a very strong signal that the three of us working together are
better than each of us working apart, and that whether it be border
security or commerce or hearing the values that are important in our
neighborhood, we can do a lot together. And I find these meetings to be
very useful and very important.
All right, we'll go around a couple of times. Pepe.
Mexico-U.S. Relations
Q. Sir, you mentioned the ties that bind both countries, the U.S.
and Mexico. But those ties are also--those issues are extremely
politically charged in both countries--trade, immigration, et cetera. So
my question would be, where do you expect to lead the U.S.-Mexico
relation in the next 3 years?
The President. Appreciate that. First, I think it's very important
for both President Fox and myself to explain to
both our countries the benefits of $300 million [billion]* two-way
trade--well, nearly $300 million [billion]* in the year 2005 of two-way
trade. In other words, it's one thing to talk trade, and I fully
understand that unless those benefits are translated to more and more
people, people begin to wonder whether or not trade is worthwhile.
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*White House correction.
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You'll find that here in America, we're having a debate as well,
over trade. I said in my State of the Union that we've got to reject
protectionism because I believe that trade, when it's done right, free
and fair, is beneficial to the parties. And I strongly believe that the
trade between the United States and Mexico has been beneficial for
Mexico, as it has for the United States. But as a leader, I've got to
continue to explain to people why.
I have a different perspective than many because of the relationship
between--because of my time as Governor of Texas, and I remember full
well what life was like on the border before NAFTA. And if you go down
to the border now, you see vitality on the border, you see that--and
vitality on both sides of the border.
There's been--commerce has helped people get jobs, and commerce has
helped people realize a better life. And it's important for us to make
sure we continue to explain that because if not, there will be
[[Page 582]]
protectionist tendencies that will tend to emerge, not only in our two
countries but around the world. And in my judgment, leadership has got
to fight off protectionist tendencies. I think that would tend to
isolate each other and make it more difficult for us to realize the
benefits of our relationship.
There's also going to be an important call for our countries to work
together to emphasize the institutions, the democratic institutions that
are vital for a functioning and stable society: anticorruption measures;
free press; free religion; institutions that sometimes can be challenged
in the course of politically--development within our neighborhood and
around the world, for that matter.
So the common value theme is a very important theme for me to
continue to work with Vicente Fox and whoever
were to replace him--obviously, we've got a lot of human issues to deal
with. The migration of people across our border is a vital issue that
must be done in the same way to protect and honor people's lives.
Americans are--I am disgusted by a system in which people are snuck
across the border in the bottom of an 18-wheeler. This is inhumane.
There's a more humane way to deal with our neighborhood.
There's a lot of big issues that confront us. But in order to make
the relationship vital, we've got to explain to people exactly why--you
know, the consequences of, for example, not having commerce flow as
frequently as we do.
Tell me your papers now. Pepe.
Q. It's El Universal.
Q. La Opinion.
The President. Si. Thank you. Welcome.
Immigration Reform
Q. Over a million people across the country have marched in support
of legalization and against H.R. 4437, the Sensenbrenner bill.
The President. In support of what? Legalization, you said?
Q. Legalization, yes. Since you're opposing amnesty, sir, would you
agree on a language that puts the undocumented on a path to earn
legalization----
The President. Let me tell you what I am for. First of all, there is
a--the legislative process is one that--obviously, it goes through the
House and then the Senate, and if there are differences, it has got to
be resolved. And what people are now doing is reacting to a legislative
process. I believe that any immigration bill ought to make sure that
we're, one, able to secure the borders. That's what Americans want;
that's what any country should want. Your borders ought to be secure.
And I also recognize that part of securing the borders requires a
guest-worker program. In other words, the two go hand in hand. I don't
believe people who have been here illegally should be granted
citizenship status right off the bat. That's amnesty.
Let me finish.
I just, as a matter of fact, gave a speech to a group of citizens
that have become U.S. citizens today, in my presence. They had stood in
line. And I do not think a country that relies upon law ought to say to
somebody who was here illegally, you get to be ahead of the line.
In other words--so therefore, I think that part of a rational worker
program is--say you're here on a temporary basis, and if you choose to
be a citizen or want to be a citizen, you get in line. But like I said
today, I've called upon Congress to increase the number of green cards.
To me, that's the most rational way of dealing with the citizenship
issue. It's essential that we not have automatic amnesty or legality.
First of all, it would send a signal that said, all you've got to do is
get here illegally and eventually you get in the head of the line. And
that's--I don't think it will work.
Q. But what if they get in line behind those who are waiting for
their green cards now?
[[Page 583]]
The President. That's why I said I think one way to deal with this
is to increase the number of green cards. And right now part of the
problem is that the green cards are limited. And that's why I have
spoken before and again reiterated my position that there ought to be a
temporary-worker program; people who want to be here should not get--be
a citizen should not get ahead of the line but ought to be waiting in
line. And if the Congress so desires, they ought to increase the number
of green cards in order to take the pressure off the system.
Q. But----
The President. It's a plan that--again, I know people are saying,
``Well, the House bill didn't have a temporary-worker program in
there,'' and I think any bill should be a comprehensive bill including a
temporary-worker program. I've spoken out on it ever since I've been the
President, and I think it is the best way to go, because I realize that,
one, it is important to enforcing the border--that being a temporary-
worker program; secondly, that it's a humane way to deal with people who
are making a contribution to our economy.
In other words, if something is illegal, then people will figure out
ways to get around the system. That's what creates the coyotes; that's
what creates the smugglers; that's what creates the document forgers;
that's what creates these places where people are dumped for a period of
time and then smuggled across and then told to walk; that's what creates
the dangerous predicament for people coming across the desert. And so
there's a--and that's why people--that's what causes people to hide in
the shadows of our cities.
And there's a much more rational way and much more humane way to
deal with people who are doing jobs that Americans won't do. Anyway,
that's why I think the work component is a vital part of an immigration
policy, and I believe border--I know border security and a guest-worker
program go hand in hand. In other words, one supports the other.
U.S. Border/Homeland Security
Q. I guess I wanted to ask you about an issue on the northern border
that's of some concern. Your administration has proposed a Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which would require passports or passport-
like documents for Canadians and Americans coming and going. And there's
been some concern in Canada that this will, in effect, do more to harm
economic trade and tourism and do little to actually improve security.
And I'm wondering, when you're moving towards, sort of, a more
integrated approach to security on things like NORAD, why move ahead
with something that really amounts to a bit more of a restriction?
The President. Well, I think--first of all, we have the same issue
to the south, by the way. How do you come up with a policy where there
are thousands of border crossings a day, without--and trying to have a
rational approach to determining who's coming in and who's going out of
the country, without endangering workforce, tourism, trade? Our goal is
to, obviously, consult with our partners to develop, you know, passport
and/or passport-like document, you said, and I think that may be the
operative word as a plan develops.
There is a desire for a lot of our citizenry--and it's reflected in
the Congress--to know, as I said, who's coming in and who's going out
and why. And I think that--I'm pretty confident that if we work closely,
we can develop such a plan that enables a scanning device or a card that
can be dealt with on a scanning device to not stop the flow of traffic
of people who make a daily routine of it, and also make sure that we
know who's coming in the country.
The purpose is not to impede trade and/or cross-border relations.
The purpose is to expedite them in a way that gives both countries, or
all three countries, comfort in knowing who's coming across. In Texas,
for example, like in El Paso, on a daily
[[Page 584]]
basis, there's thousands of people that it's just a part of their daily
routine. And the idea would be to develop a document that could be
scanned as they just walk across the bridge. It's the same concept for
Canada as well.
Q. You couldn't just do it through a driver's license? I mean,
that's the----
The President. Well, that's what they're working on. First of all,
we have found in our own country that drivers' license aren't
necessarily a secure document. I mentioned to you that this is a--the
document forgery is a significant problem for our country, primarily for
people coming in from the south. And you've got a person looking for
somebody to help build an apartment building, and people show up, and
they flash a document, and the employer is not equipped to be a document
checker. It's not what they do.
And so they say, ``Sure, come on and work.'' And the truth of the
matter is, there is a whole industry out there to provide fake documents
for people doing work that Americans won't do, because the system
needs--the system says--just hasn't been rational, let me just put it to
you that way. And therefore, there's a skepticism about certain
documents which can be forged. And that's why you're seeing the notion
of trying to develop one that is tamper-proof, for not only border
crossings but also for working.
And it seems to me to make sense without--again, I understand the
sensitivity. I'm very aware, and I'm sure Stephen and Vicente will bring this
up. I've already talked to Vicente about the issue in regards to Mexico.
Look, again, this is an issue I'm very familiar with because of my
time as the Governor of Texas. Immigration issues and border issues
are--it's been a part of our State's history for a long period of time.
Yes, Pepe. You're not going back to migration, are you?
Immigration Reform
Q. Unless you want to go there.
The President. No, but Maribel will. [Laughter] I can see it's on
the tip of her tongue. No, that's all right. It's a big issue. It's a
huge issue. Look--and you should.
Q. The question would be, though--if you excuse me, a few months
ago, or a year ago, you said that you would invest political capital in
the issue of--the immigration issue.
The President. Yes. You did come back to it. That's good.
Q. Yet in the last couple of weeks, there have been a lot of people
in this town talking that your political capital is wasted. So----
The President. Don't underestimate me, Pepe.
Q. No, I don't. But----
The President. Okay. [Laughter]
Q. Is this Congress underestimating you? Because----
The President. We'll see. But I will keep speaking out on it. One
thing is I'm--I believe it's very important to get this issue--to reform
the immigration system. I have spoken out on it before, and I will
continue speaking out on it. It's now coming to a head. And I will
continue to call Congress to have a comprehensive package that is more
than just border security but also enforcement--interior enforcement, as
well as a guest-worker program. And I'm going to say it again, that--
particularly for the American audience--the two go hand in hand. A
temporary-worker program that enables people to cross our border legally
to do work Americans won't do takes pressure off of Border Patrol agents
who are trying to stop illegal activities, which makes it easier to
secure the border.
Government of Mexico/Mexican National Economy
Q. If I may, sir, then what would you expect--or what would you
propose or expect or hope that the Mexican Government would do in this
case?
[[Page 585]]
The President. No, I appreciate that. I think it's very important
for the Mexican Government to continue doing what they have recently
done, which is to make it clear to the American people that we have
responsibilities on both sides of the border. And I thank President
Fox for putting out those statements.
You're aware of, I'm sure, a series of advertisements in our
newspapers that said, we have an important relationship with the United
States. And it requires the understanding that we will work together on
our border--as well as, by the way, working on the southern border of
Mexico, because many of the folks that are now coming into our country
are coming up from Central America, for example. A lot of folks from
Central America have been crossing into Mexico and across. And part of
making sure that our borders are secure--all our border, when I say
``our borders,'' I'm talking about Mexico and the United States borders
in this case--is that we work hand in glove in the north and also help
in the south.
And Vicente has told me he understands that
there is an issue on the southern border of Mexico. It's a difficult
border to enforce, but it's important.
The truth of the matter is, the long run for the issue is going to
be for Mexico's economy to extend its promise beyond just certain
regions. Look, I strongly believe most people want to be able to find
decent wages at their home, where people are able to provide for their
families. And I've told our people ever since I've been involved in this
issue that--and the way I like to put it is, family values don't stop at
the Rio Grande River. In other words, moms and dads in Mexico are
anxious to put food on the table for their children. And therefore, many
of them are willing to come great distances and lengths to be able to
provide for their families. And I think most people would rather be
providing for their families close to their homes.
And so part of a larger strategy has got to be to make sure that we
work in concert to develop--to encourage economic growth so that there
are meaningful jobs throughout the country. That's why I'm a believer in
trade. I believe if we were ever to stop our trade, it would make it
harder for prosperity to spread.
And I appreciate Vicente's understanding
that education programs are vital. People have got to have a skill set
in order to be able to make sure that jobs are--that jobs spread
throughout the country. And for a period of time, many people used to
come across the border from the border regions, but prosperity, as I
mentioned to you, is visible. The life has changed on the border. But
the prosperity on the border has caused people from other parts of the
country who are looking for work to migrate north, come across the
border, and try to find jobs in the United States.
And I believe that the immigrant worker has helped grow our economy.
In other words, there's jobs Americans will not do, and it makes sense
to have a legal policy that says, if there's a job Americans won't do
and people are willing to do it for the sake of their families, we ought
to encourage them to do so and make it a legal, temporary experience.
And we'll negotiate what the definition of temporary is, and we'll
negotiate the kind of documentation necessary to make sure that they're
not--there's not a lot of fraud. And we will--and also the issue of
citizenship. And again, my own judgment is, is the best way to deal with
the citizenship is to not say--to say to somebody, ``If you're here
illegally, you don't get to take somebody else's place in line who is
here legally.'' The reason we have lines is because of the green card
issue. There's a shortage of green cards. And Congress has the right to
increase the number of green cards.
Yes, Miss Maribel.
Naturalization/Amnesty
Q. Sir, do you believe there is a difference between amnesty and
earned legalization----
[[Page 586]]
The President. What does ``earned legalization'' mean? Why don't you
give me your description, and I will answer your question.
Q. According to Chairman Specter, is they have to pay a fine--the
undocumented, I'm talking about--pay a fine, get in line, prove they
have a job, that they have paid taxes, that they don't have a criminal
record.
The President. Right. But ``get in line,'' you said?
Q. Yes.
The President. That's exactly what I just said. Somebody, in order
to become a citizen, must get in line. And amnesty means you're
automatically legal and you get ahead. In other words, there is no line;
you're just it. You know, you've been here, undocumented; you're legal;
boom, you don't have to wait in line.
Getting in line is exactly what I just said. You can call it by any
way you want to call it. I would say that it's a system that does not--
that rewards and understands people here are doing jobs Americans won't
do--take out ``rewards''--understands that there are people doing jobs
that Americans won't do, but you don't get to be an automatic citizen.
You have to get in line.
Q. So you agree with Senator McCain, then.
The President. Look, I'm just telling you exactly what I am for. And
what I am for is a program that is not amnesty. In other words, amnesty
means you're automatically legal. And there are some that believe that
ought to happen, that think that's a rational policy. I disagree. And
the reason I disagree was, one, it undermines rule of law. In other
words, there's a lot of people here trying to become a citizen that are
waiting in line, and all of a sudden--and they're doing it legally, and
all of a sudden, you know, by law, it means that those who have been
here not legally get ahead of the line.
Secondly, I think it sends a wrong message. In other words,
basically, ``It's okay; fine, all you have to do is come, come in the
country, be undocumented, and in a matter of time, we'll make you
legal.'' And I think that will cause another group of people to come. So
therefore, my view is, is that, yes, you can become a citizen, but you
have to get in line. In other words, you can't get ahead of those who
have been here playing by the rules.
And the bottleneck is the number of green cards the Government
issues. And that can be changed, and that's why I called upon Congress
to increase the number of green cards.
Now, was that your question? [Laughter] You can see, Sheldon, that
the migration issue is a consuming issue. And it's an important issue.
One of the things that's very important is that this issue be conducted
in such a way as it brings dignity to our process, that immigration is
emotional and the people who are speaking out on the issue must
understand its emotional nature and must not pit neighbor against
neighbor, must treat people with respect. After all, we are a nation of
immigrants, and I believe has helped--it helps revitalize our soul. I
think it's a very important part of our Nation's history. And America
should be viewed as a welcoming society that supports its laws, and the
two don't necessarily contradict each other.
Trade Relations With Canada
Q. If I could ask you about--a bit of a two-parter. I know you don't
like two-parters, necessarily.
The President. It hasn't stopped these people. [Laughter] Did it
stop you, Nedra [Nedra Pickler, Associated Press], the two-part
question, or are you still giving them?
Q. Yes. [Laughter]
Q. You mentioned that there's skepticism in Canada about the U.S.
And I'm wondering, over the last few years, you've had some----
The President. Let me just make sure that--first of all, I believe
most--I believe people on both sides of the border think it's a very
important relationship, and
[[Page 587]]
there's great friendships. Having said that, the Canadians have,
oftentimes, taken independent view of decisions the United States makes.
And there is concern about some of the decisions I have made, yes. I
just want to make sure that it's not, kind of, universal skepticism--
kind of, define it to the proper source.
Q. There's been some personal invective hurled at you over the years
by Canadian Parliamentarians. You were the star in one of the former
Government's campaign ads.
The President. Did it work?
Q. It didn't work for them.
The President. Okay. [Laughter]
Q. I wonder whether that's tarnished your image of Canada at all,
and whether--one of the issues that's caused a lot of skepticism----
The President. If it did tarnish my image of Canada, it would also
tarnish my image of my own country, because part of being in the
political scene is that people--it's the great thing about free
societies, people speak their minds. That's what happens here in this
country as well.
Q. Well, do you see the opportunity for better relations, and
specifically on the issue of softwood lumber? That's an issue that's
caused a lot of skepticism.
The President. It has.
Q. People are looking for a strong signal from the President of the
United States.
The President. Right. No, I understand. First of all, the
relationship is much deeper than softwood lumber. And there will be--
I'll comment on softwood lumber in a minute. First of all, I'd like to
get the issue solved. So the strong signal is, is that I've told our
folks that, let's work hard to bring this issue to conclusion. And we
were close to getting it done at one point. And so my strong signal is,
yes, let's get this behind us.
I predict, however, that there will be other issues that arise
because of our--when we trade as much as we trade, nearly half-a-billion
[half-a-trillion]* two-way trade in '05, there's going to be issues that
come up. I can remember the potato issue--I don't know if it had as much
impact on thought that softwood lumber did, but it was an important
issue. I guess it was mainly confined to the eastern part of the
country.
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*White House correction.
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But with as much trade as we've got going for us, there will be
other issues that arise. Same with Mexico, by the way. We're dealing
with, you know, tomatoes, on occasion, or corn syrup, I think it was--
yes, corn syrup. And it's just very important to be in a position to
have a relationship such that we can work through these problems. But,
no--democracy is what it is. It's a chance for people to express
themselves. Sure, there were some harsh words, but--at least from my
perspective, the people tend to discount the polemics and the, you know,
kind of, just how politics works, and they want to know whether or not
there's a genuine commitment to friendship. And there is, between not
only America and Canada but also between the United States and Mexico.
It's been a long-term relationship.
The migration issue, obviously, as you can see, has created a great
deal of, at least, questioning, because it's on people's minds.
Canada-U.S. Relations
Q. Would it help if there was a little more maturity in the
relationship, in terms of how Canada deals with the U.S.? Because
there's been a perception in Canada that we haven't always been--dealt
with you square on issues like missile defense or--you know, there have
been a few things.
The President. I don't view--I, frankly, view the relationship as a
good and strong relationship. Look, people--face it, part of the problem
that we had was because of
[[Page 588]]
my decision to go into Iraq. And the Government of both countries didn't
agree, and I understand that. War is terrible. It's an awful thing. And
yet we're still able to maintain good relations.
When people are dealing with the subject of war, there is a lot of
emotion. And I fully understand that. So I view the relationships both
as not only important and vital, but I do view them as mature. As I
said, this is the third Prime Minister with
whom I will have dealt, and I--there is a certain camaraderie that takes
place by virtue of our close ties and close history. And I bear no ill
will whatsoever, and I understand the strategic importance of being
close to our friends and to have a capacity to talk among ourselves.
As I say, there's a lot we can get done by working together. The
great competition for our respective economies, in the long run, will be
coming from the Far East. And therefore, the more close our
relationships and the more we're able to deal with cross-border issues
on trade and other issues, the more we'll be able to work in concert to
keep our standard of living high. And Vicente
is--you've heard him talk a lot about his worries about China's trade
into the hemisphere and his concerns about job losses as a result of
competition. And I believe that rather than, kind of, walling ourselves
off, I believe that cooperation, like we have done through the NAFTA
process, dealing with disputes in an openhanded way, will enable us to
be able to leave in place something beyond our respective times in
office, so that future leaders can compete confidently.
And obviously, that's part of a policy. I would like to extend this
kind of cooperative spirit beyond just the three of us. That's why the
Free Trade Agreement of the Americas--which 28 of 32 members, if I'm not
mistaken, supported the Free Trade Agreement of the Americans--that's
the concept behind this notion of having a hemisphere that trades freely
in order to be competitive--help us be competitive, which will help
maintain standards of living. That's, after all, one of the key goals of
any government.
Good, we'll see you all down there. Thank you. Looking forward to
it.
Note: The interview was taped at 11:09 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
White House. In his remarks, the President referred to President Vicente
Fox Quesada of Mexico; and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. The
transcript was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on March
28. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this
interview.