Mar. 7 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 Border Security/Mexico-U.S. Relations hood who want to do work that Americans Mr. Gratas. Mr. President, I have to ask aren’t doing, and there ought to be a legal this question. You’re going to meet with process to do it so they don’t have to sneak President Calderon of Mexico. How are across the border. So the best way to se- you going to resolve the difference between cure the border is to have a comprehensive the construction of the wall on the border? immigration plan. And it’s controversial here in America. The President. Yes. I will explain to him But I firmly believe my position is a ration- that our Congress was very worried that al position and the right position, and I’m not enough was being done on both sides going to work hard with both Republicans of the border about preventing people from and Democrats in Congress to get the bill sneaking in. I will explain to him that the this year. border is going to be secured two ways— Mr. Gratas. I have 14 more questions one, by modernization—but it’s more than in Spanish, but I have no time. [Laughter] fence. This is a long border. We’re going Thank you very much. to have Border Patrol agents, but instead The President. Gracias, senor. [Laughter] of having a system that encourages people to sneak in, we ought to have a system NOTE: The interview was taped at 11:55 a.m. that says, you’re welcome to come in on in the Map Room at the White House for a legal basis to do work America is not later broadcast. In his remarks, the President doing. I mean, it makes no sense to have referred to I. Lewis ‘‘Scooter’’ Libby, former a system that doesn’t recognize reality. Chief of Staff to the Vice President. Mr. Now, that doesn’t mean automatic citi- Gratas referred to President Felipe de Jesus zenship. There ought to be a different way Calderon Hinojosa of Mexico. A tape was not to become a citizen. But it does say, there available for verification of the content of this are people who are hungry in our neighbor- interview. Interview With Juan Carlos Lopez of CNN En Espanol March 7, 2007 President’s Upcoming Visit to Central and people throughout our neighborhood that South America America cares about them. And I bring a Mr. Lopez. Thank you for speaking with message of hope, a message that says, we us. And my first question is about your care about the human condition and a mes- trip. You’re going to Latin America, the sage of accomplishment. longest trip an American President has I don’t know if you know this or not, taken to the region. Why now? Why at but since I’ve been the President, our bilat- this moment when Democrats control the eral aid to Latin America has increased Congress and there are issues that might from 800 million to 1.6 billion. And the be in their hands? reason I say that is, the American taxpayer The President. Well, thank you for asking has been very generous about providing aid that question. This is not my first trip since in our neighborhood, and most of that aid I’ve been the President. I have been in— is social justice money; in other words, it’s traveling the neighborhood, I think, maybe money for education and health. three other times. But this is a long trip, And yet we don’t get much credit for and the reason why is, I want to remind it. And I want the taxpayers—I want the 258 15 2010 15:52 Feb 25, 2011 Jkt 214691 PO 00000 Frm 00258 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\214691.009 214691 Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 / Mar. 7 American people to get credit for their gen- after the free trade agreement we signed erosity in Central and South America. between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. And the amount of trade has gone Jenna Bush up appreciably, significantly. Mr. Lopez. Your daughter Jenna is writ- And I truly believe that one of the most ing a book about her experiences in Central effective ways to eliminate poverty is America. She will be focusing on a single through free and fair trade. But there’s no mother with HIV. Has she been part of question, there’s protectionist sentiments in your eyes and ears in the region now that the neighborhood and in our own Congress. she’s been there for quite a while? And I—we got the CAFTA vote by one The President. Well, she is. First of all, vote in the House of Representatives, and I’m very proud of her. She is an accom- I’m going to have to work hard to get more plished woman. She came back—I haven’t free trade agreements through. But the fact seen a lot of her because she’s been spend- that it’s hard won’t deter me from doing ing a lot of time in Central America as what I think is right. a UNICEF volunteer—but she came back Mr. Lopez. They say you’re exporting and talked to me about this young girl that American jobs. she has befriended. And she’s deeply con- The President. Well, that’s what Ameri- cerned about alienationists in our world, cans say. I look at it differently. I think and is going to try to raise some money what we’re doing is, we are creating oppor- to help the education programs there. tunities for business people, small-business To me, her book and her example is people, to be able to sell products in other what America is all about. We’ve got com- markets, whether it be U.S. products into passionate people, and when we find suf- Central America or South America and vice fering and see income disparity or see pov- versa. erty, we’d like to help people lift them- I also know that trade enhances the selves up. wealth of all people. I mean, it is in our Trade interests that Mexico generate wealth so that people can make a living. If you’re Mr. Lopez. You’ve talked about the im- a person deeply concerned about immigra- portance of free trade. Opponents of free tion—and as you know, this is a hot issue trade in Latin America say it’s one-sided here in the United States—doesn’t it make and favors the U.S. Opponents of free trade sense to encourage trade so that people in the U.S.—— can find a job at home rather than feel The President. That’s right. compelled to try to find work elsewhere? Mr. Lopez. ——say it’s one-sided and fa- And trade is—you can track the success vors those countries. So who’s right, and of a trade agreement—and I repeat again, what are you trying to do with this right the success of the trade agreement with now? Mexico. The President. They’re both wrong. The opponents of free trade are wrong, in my judgment, because free trade—a good free Alternative Fuel Sources/Brazil trade agreement—and those agreements Mr. Lopez. Brazil, you’re going. Ethanol are signed by administrations and ratified seems to be at the top of the agenda. How by their elected assemblies—fair trade important is this ethanol? Some analysts say agreements are beneficial to both, and that you will bring Brazil closer to the U.S.; that’s what we want. you will develop ethanol plants in Central All you’ve got to do is look at the trade America and have ethanol for U.S. con- between the United States and Mexico sumption. 259 15 2010 15:52 Feb 25, 2011 Jkt 214691 PO 00000 Frm 00259 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\214691.009 214691 Mar. 7 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 The President. First of all, the alternative and we promote—and I remind people fuel issue is a huge issue for the United about the generosity of our country. States. I mean, we’re too dependent on It’s not a given, by the way, that people oil. It’s in our national security interests will continue to spend—that the Congress and our economic security interests and for will spend money. And therefore, it’s im- environmental concerns to develop alter- portant for me to show that we’re not only natives to gasoline. Ethanol is the—is what spending money but the effects of spending we’re investing a lot in here in the United money, the positive things that are hap- States to do that. Brazil has been very suc- pening as we help elevate people’s lives. cessful, so it gives us common ground to talk. Verdict in the Trial of I. Lewis ‘‘Scooter’’ I like the idea of helping Central Amer- Libby ica, by the way, develop an ethanol indus- Mr. Lopez. Mr. President, I want to ask try. I think it would be good for their na- you about the conviction of Lewis ‘‘Scoot- tional security and economic security inter- er’’ Libby. Your critics are saying that his ests. But my discussion with Brazil is more conviction makes the promise that you than just ethanol. Brazil is a very important made to bring honor and dignity back to country in South America.