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Bush pledges immigration reforms Bush pledges immigration reforms
(about 5 hours later)
US President George W Bush has pledged to reform controversial immigration laws during a two-day visit to Mexico.US President George W Bush has pledged to reform controversial immigration laws during a two-day visit to Mexico.
Mr Bush made the announcement at the start of talks with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, on the final leg of his seven-day tour of Latin America.Mr Bush made the announcement at the start of talks with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, on the final leg of his seven-day tour of Latin America.
The two leaders also are expected to tackle the issue of drug trafficking.The two leaders also are expected to tackle the issue of drug trafficking.
There have been protests at each stage of Mr Bush's trip, and verbal attacks on him by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who is on his own tour of the region.There have been protests at each stage of Mr Bush's trip, and verbal attacks on him by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who is on his own tour of the region.
Hundreds of demonstrators again protested against Mr Bush on his arrival in Mexico, as they were kept back by steel fences and security forces.Hundreds of demonstrators again protested against Mr Bush on his arrival in Mexico, as they were kept back by steel fences and security forces.
Mr Bush has already visited Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala.Mr Bush has already visited Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala.
Fence rowFence row
Speaking in the Mexican city of Merida, he said: "My pledge to you and your government, but more important to the people of Mexico, is I'll work as hard as I possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform."Speaking in the Mexican city of Merida, he said: "My pledge to you and your government, but more important to the people of Mexico, is I'll work as hard as I possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform."
The US is planning to construct hundreds of kilometres of fencing along the border to try to prevent the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico - something Mr Calderon has strongly criticised.The US is planning to construct hundreds of kilometres of fencing along the border to try to prevent the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico - something Mr Calderon has strongly criticised.
Mr Calderon repeated his criticisms of the plans on Tuesday, saying that migration could not be stopped by building a fence.Mr Calderon repeated his criticisms of the plans on Tuesday, saying that migration could not be stopped by building a fence.
Drug trafficking is also high on the agenda.Drug trafficking is also high on the agenda.
Tackling Mexico's drug cartels has been Mr Calderon's priority since he won a close election last year.Tackling Mexico's drug cartels has been Mr Calderon's priority since he won a close election last year.
Through federal troop deployments, the Mexican government has tried to clamp down in regions where the drug gangs rule with near impunity.Through federal troop deployments, the Mexican government has tried to clamp down in regions where the drug gangs rule with near impunity.
"We need the collaboration and the active participation of our neighbour," Mr Calderon said."We need the collaboration and the active participation of our neighbour," Mr Calderon said.
President Bush is unlikely to offer more concessions other than his already stated desire for a guest-worker programme for Mexicans living illegally in the US.President Bush is unlikely to offer more concessions other than his already stated desire for a guest-worker programme for Mexicans living illegally in the US.
It is another sign that this tour of Latin America has been notable more for its political and diplomatic importance than for tangible changes of policy, the BBC's Duncan Kennedy says in Mexico.It is another sign that this tour of Latin America has been notable more for its political and diplomatic importance than for tangible changes of policy, the BBC's Duncan Kennedy says in Mexico.
Mr Bush ends his five-nation tour on Wednesday.Mr Bush ends his five-nation tour on Wednesday.
Rival tourRival tour
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has used a parallel tour to speak out against what he calls the interference of the "American empire".Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has used a parallel tour to speak out against what he calls the interference of the "American empire".
The Venezuelan president flew to the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday, where he was greeted by tens of thousands of people. Mr Chavez' last stop was Haiti where he signed a deal granting the island 14,000 barrels of crude a day as a beneficiary of Venezuela's PetroCaribe initiative, which offers regional governments discounted oil supplies.
His arrival followed a brief visit to Jamaica. In a joint press conference, Haitian President Rene Preval also said his country had signed a three-way deal with close allies Venezuela and Cuba on health care, energy and oil.
Mr Chavez began his tour in Argentina last week, where he was the main speaker at a huge anti-Bush rally, and has also visited Bolivia and Nicaragua. Mr Chavez began his tour in Argentina last week, where he was the main speaker at a huge anti-Bush rally, and has also visited Bolivia and Nicaragua and Jamaica.