Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
KSL Team CoverageMexican President Vicente Fox is in Utah. Motorcades have been impressive; security has been tight; he's been welcomed; asked to go home; and serenaded by young singers and dancers from Utah's Mexican-American Community.
There are a lot of people hoping for some one-on-one time with President Fox. A lot of them hoping to get him to say something about immigration. President Fox did address immigration briefly today, but not in depth.
President Fox's comments on immigration came at the Utah Cultural Center, which mostly included a warm address directly to Utah's Hispanic community. In a speech almost entirely in Spanish, he spoke English to say this.
Vicente Fox, President of Mexico: "Mexico wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem."
In Spanish, President Fox also said the immigration issue can be resolved, but not with walls or fences. President Fox had kind words for Hispanics here, staying to shake hands with the crowd. He told them Mexico always welcomes them with open arms; he wants the best for them.
President Fox arrived in Utah around 12:30; immediately whisked off to his first engagement. At a luncheon at Little America, he focused entirely on encouraging a healthy trade relationship.
President Fox: "We fully support the businessmen from Utah in Mexico that are present with us today on business projects. These help contribute to build a more prosperous region."
Business, education, energy and security. Governor Huntsman says Utah's input is increasingly relevant to Mexico in all those areas.
Governor Huntsman: "We're rapidly growing economically, and more relevant politically. And I think all in all it was a good call on his part to make the visit."
President Fox wrapped up his day at a State Dinner at the Governor's mansion. A children's choir and a live goose gave him a brief break from a heavy schedule and heavy events.
Earlier, at the Cultural Center, his brief words on immigration resonated just as he had intended them to.
"To hear what he said tonight made us proud of him. To know he will be with us in the good times and the bad times."
President Fox will meet with the Governor for about a half hour, just before he address the legislature.
Not everyone welcomed the Mexican president to Utah. Protesters organized outside the Governor's Mansion before Mr. Fox arrived and they'll be there again tomorrow. They are angry about the President's visit and believe he should not be welcomed to the United States until, as they say, he respects the laws here.
Mexican President Vicente Fox may have only caught a glimpse of protesters when his motorcade drove into the Governor's mansion from the back. But these protesters believe illegal immigration is a huge problem and want answers from Mr. Fox.
Greg: "If he answers them honestly and he answers them from the perspective of honoring another country's law, he can't answer this because he's encouraging his citizens to break American laws in more ways than one."
Ron Musselman: "I would ask him to take care of his own people."
An exclusive survey USA poll for KSL-TV shows 55 percent of Utahns believe illegal immigration is a very serious problem. And 55 percent also believe Mr. Fox's visit to Utah to discuss economic and policy issues is a good idea.
47% do not believe his visit will be effective in developing economic and commercial relations. 37% of those asked say welcoming President Fox to Utah shows the state does not treat the issue of illegal immigration seriously enough. 56% percent disagree with that.
Karen Lundgren says if she had a chance to meet President Vicente Fox, she would ask him one question.
Karen Lundgren: "I want to know why he didn't have a strong enough country and did not develop his country in the last six years to the point where his people wanted to stay home."
President Fox's visit made big waves nationally. Governor Huntsman's office was upset by comments made on a national cable network today. CNN's Lou Dobbs tonight suggested the Fox visit is a proselyting tool for the LDS Church.
Lou Dobbs, CNN: "I was just struck by the idea of the church of Latter-day Saints, the Mormon church seems to be looking south just as avidly and aggressively as the Catholic church to add a few folks to those pews."
Governor Huntsman's office responded, calling the comments a "blatant mischaracterization of fact" and said, we're disappointed in his unfounded diatribe.
