Immigration tops Bush-Fox talks

Mr Bush chauffeured Mr Fox into an elite club of world leaders

Mexican President Vicente Fox has joined US President George W Bush at his ranch in Texas for talks set to centre on immigration issues.

The meeting follows a recent pledge by Washington to ease immigration controls for Mexicans entering the US for short-term periods.

Analysts say Mr Bush wants to court the vital Hispanic vote ahead of November's presidential elections.

But some members of Mr Bush's own Republican Party oppose the move.

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Although the US economy needs migrant labour, some Republicans do not want to be seen to be rewarding those who have broken the law to travel to the US, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Washington reports.

Since the 11 September 2001 attacks the focus in the US has been on tightening border security, not easing controls.

'Excellent starting point'

Mr Fox's arrival at the 640-hectare (1,600-acre) ranch in Crawford puts him in an elite club of world leaders who have enjoyed the same privilege, our correspondent adds.

The visit is seen as a gesture designed to patch up what has become a difficult relationship.

When Mr Bush came into office, his first visit was to Mexico in February 2001.

But in August 2002, Mr Fox cancelled his scheduled visit to Crawford to protest against the execution of a Mexican national in Texas.

Mexicans have also been disappointed by the failure to allow more immigrants into the US.

The Bush administration has recently proposed a new temporary work permit scheme aimed at easing the status of about eight million illegal immigrants in the US, most of whom are from Mexico.

In particular, senior officials in Washington say they are considering exempting certain visa-carrying Mexicans from the new strict requirements that require fingerprinting and taking a photograph.

President Fox has hailed the plan as an excellent starting point, but accepted that more sweeping immigration reform will have to wait until after the US elections, our correspondent says.

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