Tough talk backfires for Mexico's Fox

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Vicente Fox's latest bid to convince United States policy makers to ease immigration controls for Mexican workers may have backfired after his tough talk late last week was roundly condemned as racist.

A frustrated Fox lashed out on Friday at new US controls on immigrants, but he ended up red-faced over his own words.

"There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work, are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States," Fox told a group of Texas business people meeting in Mexico.

The comment was picked up by local and international media, drawing fire from US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, who said it had "ominous racial overtones".

Echoing other opinion leaders, the Mexican daily Milenio called Fox's words "shameful, undignified, unacceptable," saying it was his most reproachable remark since taking office.

"Can someone remind him of the race to which Kofi Annan, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice belong?" columnist Yuriria Sierra wrote on Sunday.

Fox, who took office in 2000, has made a top priority of reaching an accord with Washington to make it easier for Mexicans to live and work there. There are an estimated 10 million to 12 million illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States.

But nearing the end of his six-year term, he seems as far as ever from achieving that goal. His recent misstep may widen the breach with Washington and undermine his credibility.

Speaking of Fox's remark, a US State Department spokesman said on Sunday: "That level of dialogue doesn't merit comment. President Bush's commitment to immigration reform that is rational, legal, common sense, decent and compassionate is well documented."

Although the cowboy-booted rancher Fox and President George W Bush, also a rancher, made much of their friendship early on, immigration reform has been repeatedly delayed, most notably by the September 11, 2001, attacks that led to tightened US security.

Fox's office moved to contain the damage this weekend, saying he regretted the racist interpretation and clarifying that the comment was meant to highlight the positive role of Mexican workers in US society.

But the controversy comes as tensions over border issues rise between the nations.

Mexico said last week it would formally protest the latest US controls on immigrants that include tougher rules to obtain drivers' licenses and plans to extend a fence between California and Mexico to stop illegal immigrants.

Tensions are also high over creation of the Minutemen civil militia patrol along the US-Mexico border in Arizona and, during this summer, California. This has raised fears of vigilante raids by armed civilians.

On Saturday, Mexico objected to comments by US Ambassador Tony Garza about rising drug-related violence at the border.

"Here, we know our good points and bad, and we don't need anyone from outside to tell us," Interior Minister Santiago Creel complained after Garza's remarks on Friday.

Hopes of easing immigration restrictions were raised early last year when Bush proposed a temporary worker programme, but it has become bogged down in Congress.

Fox said this weekend he was encouraged by a bill put forward by Senators John McCain, an Arizona Republican, and Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, to allow some illegal immigrants in the United States to get legal jobs and eventual citizenship.

- REUTERS