MEXICO CITY – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that al-Qaida terrorists may be trying to sneak into the United States through Mexico and Canada and promised a “robust” effort to strengthen border security.
“There’s no secret that al-Qaida will try to get into this country and into other countries by any means that they possibly can,” Rice told reporters. “That’s how they managed to do it before, and they will do everything that they can to cross borders.”
The top U.S. diplomat met with Mexican President Vicente Fox and Foreign Affairs Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez in high-level talks that focused heavily on border security, immigration and improving economic ties between the United States and Mexico.
Rice announced a $10 million grant to help nurture development of small business in Mexico, particularly those involving women, and joined Mexican officials in resolving a lingering water dispute between Mexico and South Texas farmers. Mexico agreed to repay most – but not all – of Rio Grande water owed to Texas under a 1944 treaty.
The daylong trip was Rice’s first visit to Mexico since become secretary of state five weeks ago.
In testimony before Congress last month, Adm. James Loy, who at the time was deputy secretary of Homeland Security, said intelligence strongly suggested that “al-Qaida has considered using the southwest border to infiltrate the United States,” possibly with the help of criminal gangs operating along the border.
Rice confirmed that U.S. officials “have from time to time had reports about al-Qaida trying to use our southern border,” as well as the northern border with Canada.
Estimates of immigrants crossing the Mexican border each year into the United States range from hundreds of thousands to millions. Increasingly they transit Mexico from other countries, and often elude outnumbered border patrolmen.
Rice said that border security will be a top priority of new Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff.
and will be high on the agenda of a summit of President Bush, Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin March 23 at Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Mexican government officials have been testy about recent U.S. administration remarks about security problems in Mexico, including the possibility of terrorists entering the United States from Mexico.
Attorney General Rafael Macedo de la Concha said Thursday in Madrid that there were no terrorists in Mexico.
“Mexico considers that terrorism must be confronted head-on, but never to the detriment of violating the rights of citizens,” he said.
Rice displayed little patience with American citizens in Texas, Arizona and other border states who have organized themselves into patrols to prevent illegal border crossings.
“From our point of view, the U.S. government is not supporting these activities,” Rice said. “You can be certain if there are any laws broken, that people are going to be held accountable.”
Rice, conducting her first one-on-one meeting with the Mexican president, met with Fox at Los Pinos, the equivalent of Mexico’s White House, and then held talks with Derbez. Afterward, she and the foreign affairs secretary had a working lunch with academics and opinion leaders.
A handful of protesters outside the foreign ministry brandished anti-U.S. placards denouncing U.S. involvement in Iraq. “Condoleezza lies and kills and murders,” read one sign.
Addressing a top priority for the Fox administration, Rice reiterated Bush’s commitment to revamping U.S. immigration policy to deal with millions of Mexican immigrants believed to be living in the United States illegally, but stressed that the administration wants to make sure “it’s done right.”
Bush is proposing a temporary guest worker program that would enable qualified immigrants, including those now in the country illegally, to stay in the United States for up to six years in jobs that Americans don’t want.
Administration officials vigorously dispute opponents’ complaints that the initiative would grant amnesty to illegal aliens.
Friction has been growing between the neighboring countries over a range of issues, including border security, terrorism concerns, gang violence and the kidnappings of 27 U.S. citizens along the border.
In Washington, the State Department issued a new alert for Americans traveling to the Mexico border because of “increasing violent activity.”
Last month, Fox was angered by Bush administration officials criticizing drug-trafficking violence and human-rights violations in Mexico.
“I reject the way these problems are presented. I understand they have the right to alert their citizens about situations, but it shouldn’t be interference or practically a pre-mediated campaign against Mexico,” Fox said.
Despite the friction, both Rice and Mexican officials put an optimistic spin on the future of U.S.-Mexican relations. At a joint news conference, Derbez said the two countries share “a magnificent atmosphere of friendship.”
In a show of goodwill before Rice’ visit, the Bush administration asked Texas and other states to conduct new hearings for 51 Mexicans on death rows who claim they were denied access to their consulates in violation of a 1969 international agreement. At the same time, the United States also announced its intentions to withdraw from the agreement, although the decision apparently will have no effect on the hearings for the condemned Mexican inmates.
Rice said the U.S. government would continue to grant consular access but saw no need to continue participating in the optional protocol. State Department officials said earlier that the protocol had unexpected consequences and effectively gave the international court authority over the U.S. criminal justice system.
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