Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Today, U.S. President George Bush called Mexican President Felipe Calderón to commend him for his leadership and the efforts of the Government of Mexico to combat drug trafficking and violence.

The two presidents spoke for approximately 15 minutes and both noted their interest in enhancing cooperation in the common effort to fight drug trafficking and the drug cartels.

Since assuming office on December 1, 2006, President Calderón has done a great deal to bring law and order to Mexico and to stem violence. Most recently, on January 19, 2007, the Government of Mexico extradited 15 violent criminals to the United States to face justice, including four major traffickers.

Click here to read more about these historic extraditions

During the leaders’ telephone conversation, President Calderón also raised the issue of immigration. President Bush, as he did in his State of the Union address last night, reaffirmed his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform.

President Bush has continually urged the U.S. Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, and a significant part of President Bush’s plan is a temporary worker program to provide a lawful channel for foreign workers to find employment in the United States. A temporary worker program would allow those who cross the U.S. border wishing simply to provide a better life for their families to do so without violating our laws. It would also permit our law enforcement personnel to focus their resources on the drug-traffickers and criminals who make our border region dangerous.

As President Bush said last night: “Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America – with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. Yet, we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border – and that requires a temporary worker program.”

Click here to read the full text of the President’s State of the Union address

Click here for the White House fact sheet on comprehensive immigration reform

Sincerely,

Antonio O. Garza, Jr.

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