[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?

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    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

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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.