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Bush seeks to bolster Mexico ties Bush pledges immigration reforms
(about 7 hours later)
US President George W Bush has arrived in Mexico on the final leg of his seven-day tour of Latin America. US President George W Bush has pledged to reform controversial immigration laws during a two-day visit to Mexico.
Mr Bush is expected to discuss sensitive issues such as immigration, border control and drug trafficking with Mexico's leader Felipe Calderon. Mr Bush made the announcement at the start of talks with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, on the final leg of his seven-day tour of Latin America.
There have been demonstrations at each stage of the President Bush's visit and attacks on him by Venezuela's leader. The two leaders also are expected to tackle the issue of drug trafficking.
Hugo Chavez has used a parallel tour to speak out against what he calls the interference of the "American empire". There have been protests at each stage of Mr Bush's trip, and verbal attacks on him by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who is on his own tour of the region.
Hundreds of demonstrators again protested against Mr Bush on his arrival in Mexico, as they were kept back by steel fences and security forces.
Mr Bush has already visited Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala.
Fence row
Speaking in the Mexican city of Merida, he said: "My pledge to you and your government, but more important to the people of Mexico, is I'll work as hard as I possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform."
The US is planning to construct hundreds of kilometres of fencing along the border to try to prevent the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico - something Mr Calderon has strongly criticised.
Mr Calderon repeated his criticisms of the plans on Tuesday, saying that migration could not be stopped by building a fence.
Drug trafficking is also high on the agenda.
Tackling Mexico's drug cartels has been Mr Calderon's priority since he won a close election last year.
Through federal troop deployments, the Mexican government has tried to clamp down in regions where the drug gangs rule with near impunity.
"We need the collaboration and the active participation of our neighbour," Mr Calderon said.
President Bush is unlikely to offer more concessions other than his already stated desire for a guest-worker programme for Mexicans living illegally in the US.
It is another sign that this tour of Latin America has been notable more for its political and diplomatic importance than for tangible changes of policy, the BBC's Duncan Kennedy says in Mexico.
Mr Bush ends his five-nation tour on Wednesday.
Rival tour
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has used a parallel tour to speak out against what he calls the interference of the "American empire".
The Venezuelan president flew to the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday, where he was greeted by tens of thousands of people.The Venezuelan president flew to the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday, where he was greeted by tens of thousands of people.
His arrival followed a brief visit to Jamaica.His arrival followed a brief visit to Jamaica.
Mr Chavez began his tour in Argentina last week, where he was the main speaker at a huge anti-Bush rally, and has also visited Bolivia and Nicaragua.Mr Chavez began his tour in Argentina last week, where he was the main speaker at a huge anti-Bush rally, and has also visited Bolivia and Nicaragua.
'Waning influence'
President Bush arrived late on Monday in the colonial city of Merida in the state of Yucatan, where he will hold talks with one of his closest regional allies, President Felipe Calderon.
Drug trafficking is expected to be high on the agenda. Tackling the country's drug cartels has been Mr Calderon's priority since he won a close election last year.
Through federal troop deployments, the Mexican government has tried to clamp down in regions where the drug gangs rule with near impunity.
However, correspondents say there will be difficult topics between the two men.
The US is planning to construct hundreds of kilometres of fencing along the border to try to prevent the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico - something Mr Calderon has strongly criticised.
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Merida says it is unlikely they will find common ground to resolve the issue, other than a renewed commitment by Mr Bush to seek support for his guest worker programme.
The issues of immigration and drug trafficking also dominated talks in Guatemala earlier on Monday between President Bush and his counterpart Oscar Berger.
Mr Bush said he hoped to push reforms through Congress soon to allow more immigrants to work legally in the US.
President Bush ends his five-nation tour on Wednesday.