YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC May 25, 2006
Fox - immigration solution requires respect
In a historic visit to the Yakima Valley, a relaxed and smiling Mexican President Vicente Fox walked through a Hispanic-owned orchard, praised immigrant farm workers and called immigration reform a "shared responsibility" between his nation and the United States. "We have an obligation as governments to find solutions," Fox, speaking in Spanish, told a carefully assembled, mostly Hispanic crowd of about 200 at G&G Orchards in Naches Heights. He called for a solution with a "clear purpose" of "security, legality and order-and-flow of migrant people" based on "respect for human beings." Though he described immigration reform as a "long route," Fox predicted a resolution is at hand. "I believe with respect and good will and cooperation we're going to be able to reach our goals," he said through a translator. The Mexican president avoided directly criticizing the Bush administration's plan to send 6,000 National Guard members to the porous border, although he called Bush last week to express concern about the move. And Fox has ridiculed a U.S. House bill that would extend a 700- mile fence between the two nations. Casually dressed — though minus his trademark cowboy boots — Fox spoke extemporaneously about the importance of trade, education and health care. He stressed the need for humanity between the two nations and singled out the immigrant work ethic, saying faithful workers should be honored, not punished. "We are hard workers. We are loyal to the one that opened the doors and gave us opportunities to work. We are loyal to this valley, this state and this nation." While taking credit for recently announced first-quarter economic growth in Mexico, Fox said Mexico's industrializing economy needs the workers who are leaving. When people leave our country we lose talent, so we're not going to rest until we find a solution," he said. Gov. Chris Gregoire, who introduced Fox and has criticized an "We need and must have earned legalization for those who are a vibrant part of our state should they choose to become U.S. citizens," she said. Fox's visit lasted about two hours, beginning and ending under heavy security with a police escort at the Yakima Air Terminal. Arriving about a half-hour ahead of schedule at 12:50 p.m. from Salt Lake City, he stepped off a Mexican Air Force plane holding hands with his wife, Marta Sahagún. His entourage was greeted by Gregoire and a handful of local officials, including Mayor Dave Edler. Fox walked Gregoire to a green Chevrolet Suburban, giving a wave and "thumbs up" before a convoy of 17 vehicles headed to G&G Orchards, a bucolic green expanse of sloping orchards on Young Grade Road, off South Naches Road. Orchard owners René and Carmen Garcia met Fox under a partly cloudy sky that only threatened rain. Among those greeting the president was grower Sergio Marquez, who has 120 acres of apples in Wapato. "We should be proud for Mexicans here today," Marquez said. The first stop on the tour was an apple orchard, where Fox quizzed Jaime Nava, who was pruning a Golden Delicious apple tree. Nava explained that pruning ensures apples get enough sunlight to grow and achieve their color. He said he would spend about a half-hour pruning each tree. Fox and Gregoire then walked down the road to a cherry orchard, where a woman was pruning a tree. Carmen Garcia told Fox the cherries would be ready to harvest in mid-June. Gregoire then leaned in and pointed out to Fox that the state would need an estimated 20,000 workers to begin the cherry harvest. Inside G&G's packing shed, about a dozen workers boxed shiny red apples amid the whir of machinery. Fox and Gregoire shook each worker's hand. Toward the end of the warehouse tour, Fox told one man, "We're with you guys." The worker thanked him. G&G co-owner Carmen Garcia, a diminutive and forceful woman who was born in the Mexican state of Michoacán and came to the United States at age 17 to work in the fields, flanked Fox throughout. In her formal remarks to Fox before the audience, Carmen said she was speaking slowly, "Because I didn't have any schooling. I've been working since I was really young so I could eat and help my family. "I continue working even harder today. We believe Mexican workers are really important in the United States. Farmers wouldn't be able to pick the fruit without the workers," she said to applause. Carmen went on to urge Fox to help Yakima Valley growers by ending a 46.6 percent tariff on Red and Golden Delicious apples exported to Mexico. The duty resulted from complaints of dumping against U.S. firms by growers in Chihuahua, a primary apple-growing region. Three of the state's larger fruit corporations have gained an exemption to the tariff, but the Garcias said they don't have the resources to fight. "Tell the growers in Chihuahua, 'We are willing to work with you and that we will wait until you sell your fruit and then we will sell ours.'" Fox replied indirectly by noting that he's caught in the middle. He suggested the problem might be best resolved among the growers from both countries. "I would like to say that the Mexican economy is one of the more open in the world. We shouldn't be seeing anything different in the case of apples. I would like to include in the conversation the growers of Chihuahua. ... many times the growers can resolve what the authorities cannot." But he applauded the Garcias' success as the state's only Hispanic-owned integrated orchard and packing operation. "Carmen and René, I thank you. I congratulate you. This is a great example to all of us," Fox said. Warmed by the enthusiasm of his audience, Fox acknowledged their cultural kinship. "We want to tell you we love you and we know the nostalgia you feel living away from your country, your music, your family," he said to applause. He was also moved by another speaker, longtime farm-worker activist and candidate for state Senate in the 15th Legislative District, Tomás Villanueva of Toppenish. "This is a beautiful valley, rich in agriculture. But we have a lot of poverty and misery and injustice," the slightly built Villanueva said in a booming voice that drew Fox's occasionally wandering attention. "Most of our farm workers are immigrants and a lot of our own people take advantage of them. That's why it's important for you to support just immigration reform." As Villanueva returned to his seat, Fox stood and briefly embraced him.
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