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Obama Greets Mexican President at White House

   VOA News 19 May 2010
   President  Barack Obama welcomes Mexico's President Felipe Calderon to
   the White House for an official state visit, 19 May 2010

Photo: AP

   President  Barack Obama welcomes Mexico's President Felipe Calderon to
   the White House for an official state visit, 19 May 2010

   U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon have
   pledged  to work together to solve common problems and focus on issues
   that unite their two nations.
   In comments during a formal welcoming ceremony on the White House east
   lawn  Wednesday,  President  Obama talked about the many bonds between
   Mexico  and  the U.S., including the bond of family.  He said Mexican
   families have lived in the United States for generations.
   In his remarks, President Calderon took the opportunity to criticize a
   new  immigration  law  in the U.S. border state of Arizona, saying the
   new  measure  will force many Mexican families in the U.S. to "live in
   the shadows," and face discrimination.
   Following the ceremony, the two leaders, along with Secretary of State
   Hillary  Clinton,  are  scheduled to enter into bilateral talks, where
   immigration is expected to be a key issue.
   President  Obama has called the new Arizona law "misguided," saying it
   threatens  to  undermine  basic  notions  of  fairness  that Americans
   cherish.   The  Calderon  government  has issued a travel warning for
   Arizona.
   The  Obamas  will  host  the  Calderons  at  a  state dinner Wednesday
   evening.   The dinner is only the second such event so far during Mr.
   Obama's presidency.
   The  two  presidents  have met several times at international meetings
   and the Mexican First Lady hosted Mrs. Obama in Mexico last month.
   The  Arizona law takes effect in a few weeks.  It requires immigrants
   in  Arizona to carry registration documents with them at all times and
   for  police  to question people if there is reason to believe they are
   illegal immigrants. Â
   Opponents  say the law will result in racial profiling, but supporters
   say the measure will help combat crime blamed on illegal immigrants.
   President  Obama says he wants the U.S. Congress to make progress this
   year on comprehensive immigration reform. Â
   The U.S. and Mexican leaders also are expected to discuss the drug war
   in  Mexico,  which  has  affected both sides of the border.  At least
   23,000  people  have  died in drug-related violence since Mr. Calderon
   took office in 2006.
   The Mexican leader is due to address the U.S. Congress on Thursday.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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