Calderon returns to Mexico with much to do
His visit to California points up the challenges he faces in stemming the drug trade, illegal immigration and a host of economic problems.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has wrapped up a four-day visit to California, a trip that highlighted the challenges his administration faces at home.
Calderon is battling drug cartels whose savagery has reached new heights, fueled by U.S. demand and by high-powered weapons, many of them bought in the United States. His country has seen a harrowing two-year wave of executions, beheadings and brazen attacks on police by smugglers that has many observers comparing the violence to what was seen in Colombia in the 1980s.
The Mexican leader insists he is beginning a transformation of Mexico's economy so that poor people will no longer feel they need to risk death by illegally crossing the border.
During the presidency of Calderon's predecessor, Vicente Fox, Mexico enacted none of the economic reforms and changes most observers say are necessary. The Mexican Congress, dominated by opposition parties, often refused to act on initiatives Fox put forward.
When Fox addressed the California Legislature two years ago, about two dozen Republican members of the Senate and Assembly boycotted the event to protest illegal immigration. But on Tuesday, Calderon received a warm welcome in the Capitol, drawing applause when he said, "While my government is committed to protecting the rights of all Mexicans, including those living beyond our borders, we are taking great efforts to ensure that in the future no Mexican needs to leave our country to find job opportunities elsewhere."
Among those applauding were Republican lawmakers.
While in Sacramento, Calderon and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an agreement to jointly fight climate change and discussed how to combat drug trafficking and boost trade.
Wednesday night, Calderon met with Southern California immigrant leaders in Los Angeles, lauding them for their hard work and contributions to the U.S. economy.
Mexican immigrants sent home about $26 billion last year, according to Mexican government figures. That money supports millions of families and sustains many regions of Mexico.
"We in Mexico miss you," Calderon said, referring to the immigrants. "We know life has rooted you here."
Calderon spoke at a banquet attended by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel downtown. Outside, Minutemen protesters waved signs urging the United States to "adopt Mexico's immigration policies," which are far stricter.
Other signs called on Calderon to "fix Mexico."
In that regard, "we're doing our job," Calderon told immigrant leaders and a group of reporters the next morning.
He cited a measure he is pushing that would begin the transformation of the country's corrupt and anemic justice system.
He said he was also trying to reform the energy sector, which suffers from dilapidated infrastructure and in which private investment is largely barred. Many economists believe the high cost of energy in Mexico strangles job creation.
Many analysts believe Mexico must also make fundamental changes to its education system, labor laws and tax system, which suffers from widespread evasion.
sam.quinones@latimes.com
