Bush Gives Mexico's Fox Concession on Borders

[CatWoman]

By Caren Bohan

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush on Saturday gave Mexican President Vicente Fox a concession on his push to ease border restrictions as the two leaders sought to rebuild a friendship soured by the Iraq war and shifts in U.S. foreign policy after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Bush told Fox during visit at his Texas ranch that he will allow some Mexicans who travel often to the United States to bypass requirements that they be photographed and fingerprinted each time.

"We welcome the news that was confirmed today with regard to visitors to the U.S. from Mexico," Fox told reporters at a joint news conference after a two-day meeting with Bush.

"We recognize the value to those who come the United States to work, to study, to contribute. And we appreciate what this will do to the flow of visitors now that they will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted for short visits to the United States," he said.

The fingerprinting of visitors is part of tough new border restrictions Washington has put in place in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The United States is using the program, called US-VISIT, to track people as they enter and leave the country. Fox has objected because the program exempts Canadians but not Mexicans.

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