President Fox, about the border

Washington is honored and delighted to welcome Mexican President Vicente Fox for a visit this week. This is a perfect opportunity to show off our state, say thank you for all the apples Mexico buys, brag about our airplanes, and ask a few questions.

U.S. Census figures tell us Washington is home to more than 500,000 Latinos, and roughly 80 percent are of Mexican heritage. Two U.S. states separate our borders, but with economic and familial ties, we are practically neighbors. A question missing from the emotional immigration debate over tighter security at this country's southern border is what Mexico will do to cinch things up on its side of the international divide?

We know how President Fox feels about the fence proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives last December; he called it shameful and stupid. He has decried plans to "militarize" the border with National Guard deployments.

Not surprisingly, he is supportive of a guest-worker plan and a rational path to citizenship.

Entirely missing is a sense of what Mexico will do to impede, confront and interdict the movement of illegal, undocumented workers into the U.S. A significant responsibility falls on Mexico to be a reliable partner in regaining control of the border and maintaining a lawful environment.

One pointed inquiry is about the percentage mix of Mexicans who are attracted to opportunities in the U.S. versus those who flee a nation with continuing human-rights issues.

Mexico's economic strains are real enough. News reports say Mexico's economy must grow at a brisk annual rate of 6 percent just to provide a million jobs a year to keep pace with population growth. Uncle Sam cannot continue as the default employer.

President Fox will be out of office in a few months. Elections are in July.

He should share with friends in Washington what his leading National Action Party has in mind for managing Mexico's side of the border.