Fox visit to focus on state ties

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Wednesday that the increasingly heated debate over immigration may well dominate Mexican President Vicente Fox's visit to Utah next month — at least in the media.

"From a media-coverage standpoint, that will clearly be a big part of the visit because it's topical," the governor said. "There's not much control anybody can have over news coverage. It will be what it is, but beyond that will be the substance of the visit."

Although dealing with undocumented workers from Mexico no doubt will be talked about, Huntsman said the focus will be "the discussions that take place with education and economic-development leaders and further solidifying a state-to- country relationship."

Because Mexico is Utah's third-largest trading partner, that relationship "will be very important for years to come," the governor said. He also noted the "significant cultural ties" Utah has to Mexico because of the state's growing Hispanic population.

Huntsman said Fox will find that even in a state like Utah that doesn't share a border with Mexico, there is interest in resolving the immigration issue. Recent demonstrations in favor of immigrant rights have attracted thousands of Utahns.

"The president will see the interest in finding solutions to immigration goes well beyond the border states," the governor said. "I commend him for being willing to travel into America's heartland to better understand our perspective."

The Mexican leader's visit to Utah later this month will strengthen ties created when the governor visited Mexico City last July, Salt Lake Mexican Consul Salvador Jimenez said Wednesday.

Jimenez held a news conference Wednesday to discuss the planned visit, which still needs the approval of Mexico's Congress. There are so many positive reasons for the visit, "we trust it will be authorized," he said.

"This is very important news for everyone here," Jimenez said. "We are very excited. We trust this will be a very successful visit."

Jimenez said the visit has three goals: to open a political dialogue, support the Mexican community, and build economic ties between Utah and Mexico.

The scheduling details have yet to be worked out. Fox is tentatively scheduled to arrive in the early morning on May 23 and leave for Seattle the next evening. His U.S. trip, which also includes California, is scheduled to end May 27.

"We want to expand our relations with Utah, and not just economically," Jimenez said. "Cultural relations are important."