John Kerry's stance on US relations with Mexico

United States Relations with Mexico: US relations with Mexico have traditionally been strained because the two states share a long border with marked economic inequality on either side. The U.S. relations with Mexico consist of two elements outside of immigration. The first is trade policy between the two nations. Mexico is currently the second-largest trade partner with the United States next to Mexico. The second element involves border cooperation. In recent years, the United States has had positive relations with Mexico particularly because of its current President, Vicente Fox.

John Kerry:

Description of the Candidate's Position: John Kerry's general plan for relations with Mexico includes making relations with Mexico a priority in order to best address economic, environmental, and social issues of concern.

Quotation from the Candidate: Latinos and Latin America will not be used or regarded as an afterthought in my Administration. I am committed to realizing real immigration reform, and will make relations with Latin America a central component of my foreign policy."

Assessment of the Proposal:

Positive: A GlobeScan/Maryland poll conducted in 30 different countries found that those polled in Mexico supported Kerry with him winning percentages from 18-38%.

Negative: Many Latinos within the United States tend to be conservative, and that, combined with President Bush's experience as Governor in Texas, a state with a large Latino population, supports that many Mexican Americans within the United States support President Bush. Additionally, Senator Kerry has yet to outline a specific plan regarding improving relations with Mexico.

Comparison: President Bush in March 6, 2004 explained the Border Partnership Agreement, a plan designed to improve infrastructure at ports of entry along the common border, in order to stop possible threats to both the US and Mexico, additionally the President is committed to working with President Fox to expand free and fair trade between the nations.

Link to Bush's Mexico brief