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Email A former Mexico president said Thursday that immigration is an asset to any nation, and a framework can be built for it.
Vicente Fox, who served as president from 2000 to 2006, said the market has driven immigration between Mexico and United States.
"There is demand for labor here, and there is supply here in Mexico," he said. "Immigrants are here because they get a job. Because somebody hires them. Because somebody pays them. Whether documented or not, most of them are working."
Fox and his wife, Marta, spoke at Augustana College's annual Boe Forum on Thursday night at the Elmen Center. About 3,500 attended. He also spoke at an earlier news conference at Humanities Center's Kresge Recital Hall.
Fox, 65, played a vital role in building democracy in Mexico and the country's economy by reducing debt, interest rates and inflation while raising per-capita income.
The night's topic of immigration resonates in South Dakota as it does in many parts of the nation. The state's Hispanic population grew 15 percent between 2000 and 2005, according to recent analysis of U.S. Census data by South Dakota State University. The largest increases were in Minnehaha and Pennington counties, but Yankton, Meade and Lawrence counties also had large increases.
Fox shared how his grandfather came from Ohio to Mexico as an immigrant and pursued his dream. Fox said he has a high respect for immigrants and noted that hundreds of thousands of Europeans came through the port of New York.
As for legal and illegal immigrants coming to communities, he said that sustaining elderly U.S. residents' retirement plans will not be possible if it's not done by nourishing the U.S. economy with a work force of immigrants.
"Who is going to build the hospitals, the hotels, the highways? They are being built by immigrants," he said. "At many of the packing plants in this state, in Iowa, in other states? ... Who is going to harvest the vegetables in California? Who sets your table in many restaurants? The service economy is highly supported by these people."
Fox said a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, proposed in an immigration bill now stalled in Congress, would not be effective. Other walls haven't worked, such as the Wall of China, Berlin Wall and West Bank Wall, he said.
"We should be building bridges instead of walls," he said. "Bridges of cooperation instead of isolation. Bridges of love. Bridges of compassion. Bridges of trade."
Fox said borders should not divide societies, nations, income, education or technology. He called for extending the North American Free Trade Agreement to other Latin American and Caribbean countries to create a continental agreement.
"We will be ready to compete in this very competitive world and be ready to succeed as the largest, most competitive and most successful bloc of nations," he said.
Marta Fox shared her experience of working with Vamos Mexico Foundation to help women, children and the poor. She helped create rehab centers for substance abusers, among other programs.
She also spoke of facing gender imbalance and machismo in Mexican politics when she tried to run for mayor of her town.
"On the way out, they said, 'She is great. She has great programs. But she is a woman,' " Marta Fox said.
Reynold Nesiba, Augustana associate economics professor, said Fox's policies have been interesting. While he embraces free markets and open borders, he also is in favor of universal health care and universal education.
As the Mexican economy improved during the former president's term, Nesiba said the country seems to be on a path toward greater prosperity.
Bruce Mair, a Sioux Falls teacher, said he found it difficult to argue with Fox's idea of compassion in immigration and building a better country.
"They're seeking a better way of life," he said. "He's not promoting anything illegal. He just says we have to find a way to stem the tide a little bit through cooperation and working together."
Reach reporter Melanie Brandert at 977-3926.
