Bush yields on border dispute

CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush acceded to the demands of Mexican President Vicente Fox and halted plans to fingerprint and photograph documented migrants entering the United States across the southern border.

During a news conference held after a morning meeting between the two men yesterday, Mr. Fox expressed his appreciation to Mr. Bush for scaling back the scope of the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT), exempting Mexicans who hold so-called “laser visas” from going through the additional security check.

“We welcome the news that was confirmed today with regard to visitors to the U.S. from Mexico,” Mr. Fox said. “We recognize the value to those who come to the United States to work, to study, to contribute, and we appreciate what this will do to the flow of visitors [to the United States] now that they will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted at the frontier for short visits to the United States.”

Laser visas include a digital photograph and biometric identifiers, such as fingerprints, for each cardholder. Mexican nationals coming into the United States began carrying them in October 2002.

Mr. Bush said his decision to drop the fingerprint-and-photograph requirement for visa-holding Mexicans is “very reasonable,” and was happy for the “progress” the two countries are making on immigration matters.

He also defended a proposal he made in January to grant worker cards to millions of illegal aliens now in the United States that would award temporary legal status for several years at a time.

Mr. Bush strongly insisted that his plan is “not an amnesty program,” but a way to facilitate “safe and orderly migration.”

“I oppose amnesty, placing undocumented workers on the path to citizenship,” Mr. Bush said. “This program will match willing workers with willing employers without disadvantaging those who have followed the law and waited in line to achieve American citizenship.”

Mr. Fox said immigration concerns dominated their discussions yesterday, and claimed that the United States greatly benefits from migrant workers from Mexico.

“We know the value of the open relationship, commercial relationship, and the impact that it has had on both these nations, and the unprecedented levels of prosperity that it brings to our people,” Mr. Fox said. “It’s a two-way street, a two-way commercial street. It’s a buying-and-selling operation.”

Mr. Bush agreed with the Mexican president’s characterization of immigration.

“The United States will benefit from the labor of hard-working immigrants,” Mr. Bush said. “Mexico will benefit as productive citizens are able to return home with money to invest and spend in their nation’s economy.”

All the talk about Mr. Bush’s immigration-reform plan, however, is likely to be in vain — at least this year. Congress, especially the conservative Republicans who dominate the House, have given the president’s proposal a cool reception.

Even Mr. Bush had to acknowledge that his plan has little chance of passing soon.

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