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Segment Transcript
Two segments -- Lou Dobbs Tonight -- CNNLOU DOBBS TONIGHT
Aired February 1, 2005 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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Turning to other news tonight, Mexican President Vicente Fox is trying to downplay tension what is escalating tension now between the United States government and Mexico over rising border violence.
One of President Fox's deputies, however, says Mexico will no longer be subordinate or servile to the United States. Separately, one U.S. official is about to join with one of Mexico's most powerful business leaders.
Casey Wian has the story from Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mexican President Vicente Fox visited the border town of Los Algodones, welcomed U.S. tourists and declared that the dispute between the two countries over a violent drug war is over.
VICENTE FOX, PRESIDENT OF MEXICO (through translator): I have decided to take a tour and to listen directly to our visitors, how they are attended to, how they enjoy the security we have in these border cities.
WIAN: Last week, the U.S. State Department issued a scathing public announcement alerting U.S. visitors to rampant drug violence in northern Mexican cities. The Mexican government reacted with indignation, saying it received no advance notice. Mexican Interior Secretary Santiago Creel then attacked U.S. efforts to stop illegal immigration.
SANTIAGO CREEL, MEXICAN INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): It is a phenomenon that cannot be held back with fences nor with Border Patrols because there is an opportunity for jobs and there is a demand for jobs on our side.
WIAN: Creel, a likely successor to Fox, also said his country has had enough subordination to the United States. He repeated Mexico's position that the U.S. shares responsibility for the drug war because it hasn't done enough to stop drug use.
Since Creel's comments, Fox has called President Bush and officials from both sides have met to ease tensions.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza, whose public letter requesting better protection for American visitors started the diplomatic feud, is apparently very serious about closer ties between the U.S. and Mexico.
The U.S. Embassy confirms Ambassador Garza is engaged to a Mexican billionaire. She is Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala, who controls Mexico's largest brewery, Grupo Modelo, better known in this country as the producer of Corona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WIAN: The State Department did not return phone calls seeking comment on the potential for conflicts of interest created by the marriage of a U.S. ambassador and one of his host country's most powerful business leaders -- Lou.
DOBBS: Casey, thank you very much.
Casey Wian reporting from Los Angeles.
Coming up here later, I'll be talking with a leading congressman who's calling for a crackdown on illegal aliens in this country.
Congressman J.D. Hayworth of Arizona is one of the cosponsors of tough new legislation that will make it more difficult for illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses in this country.
Today is Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's last official day in office. Ridge says he's leaving public service after 24 years in order to spend more time with his family.
President Bush has nominated Federal Appellate Court judge and former Justice Department official Michael Chertoff to replace Ridge. Chertoff's Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin Wednesday. He is expected to win confirmation readily.
That brings us to the subject of tonight's poll. Do you believe President Bush will include a comprehensive border security and immigration reform proposal tomorrow evening? Yes or no. Cast your vote, please, at loudobbs.com. We'll have the results later.
Fans and players at a college basketball game in Virginia were witness to what can be truly called a long shot. With less than one second on the clock in the final overtime of the Guilford College game against Randolph-Macon College, Guilford took the desperate floor- length shot, and, oh, yes, it actually went in. Guilford sophomore Jordan Snipes made the 90-footer -- 90-footer -- at the buzzer, enough for Guilford to win the game 91-89 over their top-ranked opponent, Randolph-Macon.
Still ahead here, our nation's border crisis. Millions of illegal aliens invading our country and abusing the rights of U.S. citizens. One Republican congressman leading the fight to protect our Broken Borders is our guest.
And then an "Ethics Overhaul" that could affect your health care. How the government is trying to stop scientists from becoming too cozy with drug companies.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Up next, three of the country's top journalists will join me to discuss tomorrow's State of the Union address to tell us how the president's agenda may no longer be that of the Republican Party.
And the escalating crisis along our borders. I'll be joined by a leading congressman who calls the president's guest-worker program amnesty light, and, by that, I don't think he means he wants to see amnesty heavy.
And why India may no longer be the low-cost draw it once was for U.S. companies who like to outsource to cheap labor markets. Our special report is coming up with next, a great deal more.
Stay with us.
ANNOUNCER: LOU DOBBS TONIGHT continues. Here now for more news, debate and opinion, Lou Dobbs.
DOBBS: Joining us now, a congressman, one of several Republicans, outraged with President Bush's plan to give millions of illegal aliens in this country legal status. Congressman J.D. Hayworth of Arizona is also working to stop a U.S. agreement with Mexico that some say could result in millions of illegal aliens receiving billions of dollars in Social Security benefits. He is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and joins us tonight from Capitol Hill.
Congressman, good to have you with us.
REP. J.D. HAYWORTH (R), ARIZONA: Lou, good to be with you.
DOBBS: Let's start just -- since it's a border with a state you represent, at least in part, what in the world is the Mexican government thinking? Have you figured that out?
HAYWORTH: Well, Mexico apparently has decided rather than being an ally of the United States, it will be a willing accomplice in illegal immigration and now in the wake of the Proposition 200 vote in Arizona to make sure that government benefits are only going to folks with legal status. Mexico even says it wants to go to the World Court at The Hague and somehow try to reverse the decision of the people of Arizona. Let me just take this opportunity, Lou, to tell the government of Mexico that the people of Arizona make the laws of Arizona and not the government of Mexico.
DOBBS: And as you know, Congressman, it is not only the Mexican government upset about the fact that representative democracy is working in the state of Arizona, but there are interest groups, open- border lobbying groups and interest groups all across this country very upset that the people in Arizona actually have a democracy in which their will can be formed to become law of the state. What are your thoughts on that?
HAYWORTH: Well, Lou, we have a fundamental choice it seems to me in this constitutional republic through representative democracy. Either we protect our borders in a time of war or we sacrifice the future of our republic on the funeral pyre of the politically correct. And I would say that all these advocates who have jumped on an open borders policy are really flirting with a significant danger, a danger that transcends economic problems and goes to the heart of our national security.
DOBBS: And the president, a member of your party, President Bush, is absolutely -- there are a number of expressions for it, but apparently without reserve going to go ahead with his amnesty program, guest worker program, and is perpetuating what is effectively an open borders program in contravention of everything you just said is the appropriate policy.
HAYWORTH: Well, this is the point that several of us have made to the president individually, and we continue to make, because, Lou, it begs this question -- if folks won't obey existing laws, what makes us think they will obey any new laws. Certainly if history is any guide in the wake of Simpson-Misouli (ph) and that form of amnesty back in the mid to late 1980s we have not seen a curtailment. Indeed we're witnessing an illegal invasion. And amongst the Mexicans coming north are folks who intend to do us ill, I believe.
Just -- case in point, Lou, a visit to the border station Nogales where the people there said, gee, Congressman, we picked up an Iraqi. He claimed he got a green card in 1978 but that begs the question, why is he sneaking into the United States? And why was his Spanish so much better than his English?
So the bottom line that I take to the president in the midst of this profound disagreement is that border security is national security, that there are serious questions and not only about our future in terms of national security, but a flashpoint on Social Security, with the so-called totalization agreement with Mexico. That would be wrong.
DOBBS: Do you think you'll be able to defeat it should the administration ultimately decide to bring that forward for congressional approval?
HAYWORTH: Well, we are going to work very hard. I have sponsored a resolution of disapproval. It's important to clue your audience in. I know they're up to date on this issue but a totalization agreement is a type of retirement program reciprocity. We have it with other countries where Americans work abroad, but when you take a look at Mexico and the sheer numbers of people, the Social Security Administration only estimates that about 50,000 Mexican workers would avail themselves of this program. You and I and your viewers know that the numbers would be in the millions and they would jeopardize Social Security monies.
DOBBS: And the basis of totalization and reciprocity with 20 other countries as you point out in each instance, we're talking about legal immigration, not illegal.
HAYWORTH: And under this provision, if a Mexican citizen had only been legal one day, all that time when they worked illegally conceivably could be counted into a pension fund and could go in terms of Social Security dollars. It is a wrong-headed decision, and I've spoken to the president personally and asked him, at least on this issue of totalization, to forgo that. It's just the wrong policy.
DOBBS: We're out of time, Congressman, I've got to ask you -- are you encouraged by his response?
HAYWORTH: Well, he said he would take it into consideration. But one of the great things about our system is, Lou, even within the majority party, we can have disagreements and this should transcend traditional party labels.
DOBBS: Congressman J.D. Hayworth. We thank you for being here.
HAYWORTH: Thank you, Lou.
DOBBS: A reminder now to vote in our poll tonight. Do you believe President Bush will include a comprehensive border security and immigration reform proposal tomorrow evening? Yes or no. Cast your vote at loudobbs.com. We'll have the results coming right up.
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