Calderon was in Washington D.C. to accept the International Leadership Award from the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI). According to CNNMexico, the president used his speech to ask the U.S. to leave behind the policies based on "recriminations", and to move forward with the "mutual respect and admiration" that the countries have for each other.
These comments come just days after the announcement that Arizona governor Jan Brewer has signed two new immigration-related laws that would allow for private fund raising for a border fence, and for the formation of a civilian militia for "emergency situations".
"The prosperity of the United States can not be understood without the contribution of the 50 million Hispanics living in this country," Calderon said. "[T]his community should no longer perceived as a threat and move to be welcomed as friends and allies really are.
The relationship between the U.S. and Mexico regarding their shared border has long been under strain. In the past year alone, some states, such as Arizona, have passed laws designed to stem the flow of so-called "illegal" migrants into the country. Concurrently, there have been measures like the DREAM Act (which the Senate failed to pass but certain states - like Utah - have signed) which aim to address the rights and citizenship of the U.S.-born children of "illegal" immigrants. The drug cartel violence that's taken approximately 35,000 lives since Calderon's 2006 implementation of a war-on-drugs strategy has further deepened the culture of fear and mistrust regarding the border, and has also caused significant protest in Mexico.
According to a press release on the CHLI web site, the International Leadership Award is "in recognition of [the recipient's] contributions to the positive advancement of the U.S. Hispanic Community, which is now the nation’s second largest demographic group, the largest minority according to 2010 Census results, and the second largest economic market with an estimated purchasing power of more than $1 trillion."
