Mexico wants to be part of solution to U.S. immigration problem, president says

Fox began his visit Tuesday amid a heated debate over illegal immigration. He said Mexico wants to be part of the immigration solution, not the problem.

Photo: Mexico wants to be part of solution to U.S. immigration problem, president says

Mexico wants to be part of solution to U.S. immigration problem, president says

"It's not with fences that we are going to solve this problem," he told representatives of groups active in Utah's Mexican community.

On Wednesday, Fox was scheduled to address a special session of the Utah Legislature before heading to Washington state. From there, he is expected to move on to California for an address before California lawmakers and meetings with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Fox's visit comes as the U.S. Senate considers legislation to strengthen border security, authorize new guest-worker programs and give an eventual chance at citizenship to most of the estimated 12 million people already living illegally in the United States, the AP reports. 

Some demonstrations were planned in conjunction with his legislative address Wednesday. The Minuteman Project, which opposes illegal immigration, was planning protests at the Capitol. About 60 people demonstrated near the governor's mansion before a state dinner Tuesday.

Utah Minutemen member Ron Musselman of Morgan, Utah, said he wanted to ask Fox, "Why don't you take care of your own social problems and stop leaching off the American people?"

While touring parts of Utah Tuesday, Fox encouraged greater cooperation between the United States and Mexico in trade, energy and security issues to improve the quality of life in both countries.