Border violence could jeopardize trade and immigration reform

The Associated Press
08/17/05 01:53 EDT

DENVER (AP) – U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza Jr. warned that
progress on immigration reform, trade and other issues facing both
nations could be compromised if Mexico is unable to control the drug
wars along its border.

“The longer that violence continues, the tougher it becomes for many
Americans to talk about Mexicans as trusted partners with mutual
interests,” he said in a Tuesday speech at the University of Denver’s
Graduate School of International Studies. “An aggressive response to
border violence is one way to help avoid talk of building walls when
we are all better served by building bridges.”

Garza also described Mexico as a leading democracy and an economic
powerhouse in Latin America, but he said he ordered the temporary
closure of the American consulate in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to ensure
the safety of American there after drug feuds have led to several
killings in recent months.

“Some have said that I ordered the shutdown (in Nuevo Laredo) to
punish the Mexican government for its failure to control violence
in the region,” Garza said. “And in a sense that’s true … and I’ve
been clear, my primary responsibility as ambassador is the safety of
United States’ citizens, and I shouldn’t and I won’t hesitate to take
action when they are at risk.”