URUGUAY: Leaders at the Ibero-American Summit rebuked the United States for its plan to build a fence along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants

Leaders at this weekend's Ibero-American Summit rebuked the United States for its plan to build a fence along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. U.S. President George W. Bush signed legislation last week approving the construction of the 700-mile (1,126-km) fence, an action condemned by Mexico's government. A draft of a final declaration by the leaders of Spain, Portugal and Latin America gathering in Montevideo includes a special statement rejecting the fence plan. "We express our deep concern over the decision adopted by the government of the United States," it reads, adding regional leaders want to "make a firm call for the United States to reconsider" its decision. "The text proposed by Mexico is one of rejection to the decision by the United States and it has been adopted by all countries participating in the summit without any difficulties," said Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Several prominent regional heads of state, including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Peruvian President Alan Garcia were skipping the two-day summit that will focus on immigration. "After a year of intense work I am now more convinced than ever that there is room in Ibero-America for cooperation for the advancement of progress, justice and peace. This is not only possible but necessary," said SEGIB (Ibero-American Secretariat) Secretary General Enrique Iglesias. The Bush administration defends the decision as necessary to tighten control of the border to keep criminals and terrorists out. But Mexico argues the fence will do little to ease illegal entries and will likely increase deaths along the border. Every year, thousands of Mexicans risk their lives sneaking across the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border, much of it desert, in search of work to escape poverty. Illegal Latin American and African immigration to Spain has also risen in recent years.

ITN Source | November 4, 2006

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