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Marc Giauque reportingAs Mexican President Vicente Fox visits Utah, he's winding up his final months in office. He'll turn over to his predecessor an economy that some say will have to create a million jobs a year, just to keep up with growth. It's part of the reason why experts say so many people feel compelled to cross the border.
In Armando Solorzeno's hometown, and many like his, big changes happened suddenly.
Armando Solorzeno: "This was a town where we used to plant corn and beans. Well the international corporations from the United States come and say we don't need corn and beans anymore, we need avocados."
Because it takes a decade for the trees to mature, Solorzeno says many workers were displaced. Overall, he says, agriculture changes forced 600,000 people out of work.
Armando Solorzeno: "These people cannot live in Mexico City, because Mexico City is already filled up with 18 million people. So you either immigrate or you die."
Solorzeno is a professor in ethnic family and consumer studies at the U. He says even those who have jobs can barely make it.
Armando Solorzeno: "The minimum wage in Mexico is $4.00 per day."
And in many ways he says, the entire country depends on immigrants, people who he says are highly regarded at home.
Armando Solorzeno: "Immigrants are the heroes of the country, let's not forget that. The second largest income in the Gross National Product of Mexico is the money that the immigrants send to the country."
Heroes in some eyes, criminals in others.
But can Mexico one day support its own?
Kent Jameson: "They've had exceptional growth, but they certainly have not been able to absorb the people both forced off the land because of NAFTA and the population increase."
Kent Jameson, an economist who put together a study on the Utah-Mexico relationship, says there is hope. Solorzeno too, sees potential.
Armando Solorzeno: "Utah has what Mexico cannot offer. That is jobs in their lifestyle. Mexico has what Utah is lacking right now, and that is gasoline and cement."
It's why Solorzeno says you're likely to hear Fox talking a lot more about trade and less about immigration over the next several days.
