Bush Waives Security Checks for Mexicans

bandoning the new security measures put in place following the 9-11 terror attacks by foreign nationals, President George Bush announced last month that millions of Mexicans will be allowed to cross the border into the U.S. without being fingerprinted or photographed by U.S. authorities.

"Mexico and the United States are more than neighbors," said the president as he stood side by side Mexican President Vicente Fox at news conference in Crawford, Texas. "We are partners in building a ... prosperous hemisphere" he declared.

Lifting the rudimentary security checks means short-term Mexican visitors will not be cross-checked with the entry-exit visa database designed to catch criminals and terrorists trying to enter the U.S. The data system, called US VISIT, was begun after the 9-11 attacks heightened law enforcement sensitivity to the activities of immigrants who illegally overstay their visas. Three of the 9-11 hijackers overstayed their visas. A large portion of the estimated 11 million illegal aliens in the U.S. are aliens who violated visa terms.

Denise Dresser, a political scientist at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, said Bush's decision was geared to making him look good to potential Hispanic voters.
"Bush is interested in showing a Hispanic constituency that he is willing to take some small step to better the lives of Mexicans," Dresser told the Washington Post.

For three years Mexico's President Fox has been pushing the U.S. to open its borders to allow even more Mexican immigration to the U.S.

This is the second major concession to Mexican demands from President Bush. Earlier this year he proposed granting amnesty to all illegal aliens with jobs and lifting immigration restrictions on any immigrant who could find a willing U.S. employer. Outraged public opposition prevents Congress from considering the plan.

Big business groups applauded the president's plan, saying that photographing and fingerprinting Mexicans might hurt their profits.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has long cautioned that border security measures might negatively impact members' business interests. In legislation, Congress has required the US VISIT data system to be in place at the 50 busiest land border crossings by the end of 2004. But the chamber, in testimony before a congressional committee, argued that the deadline should be extended if the system "handcuffs" trade and commerce.

Eager to placate an angry public outraged over illegal immigration, Congress in 2002 set up the electronic entry and exit system for every foreign traveler as a guard against illegal overstays. But since then, ethnic advocacy groups for Mexicans and Arabs have charged the system is "racist" and sought exemptions.

President Vox welcomed Bush's announcement.

"We welcome the news that was confirmed today with regard to visitors to the U.S. from Mexico. Now they will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted," he said.

About 7 million Mexicans holding short-term visas are eligible to take advantage of the lax security.