Mexico's President-Elect Calls U.S. Border Fence a Grave Error

During a state visit to Ottawa, Mexican president-elect Felipe Calderon sharply criticized the United States on 26 October 2006 for authorizing construction of a fence along its border with Mexico, comparing the decision to the building of the Berlin Wall.

U.S. President George W. Bush signed legislation that same day approving roughly 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) of fencing along about one-third of the U.S.-Mexico border. Congress earmarked approximately 1.2 billion dollars for the project, aimed at reducing illegal immigration into the United States.

Calderon argued the barrier would burden American taxpayers while doing nothing to stop unauthorized crossings. He also pointed to the roughly 400 Mexicans who died attempting to cross the border the previous year, warning the fence would drive that toll higher.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged U.S. concerns about border security but cautioned against measures that could impede trade, tourism, and cross-border social ties between the two neighboring countries.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.