OTTAWA -- The Bush administration's decision to build a security fence along its border with Mexico is like the construction of the Berlin Wall that separated communist East Germany from West Germany for decades, and will lead to an increase in deaths among those trying to sneak into the United States, according to Mexico's president-elect, Felipe Calderon.
Calderon was in Ottawa on Thursday meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and seeking his support in presenting opposition to the U.S. plan on the grounds it risks hurting the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Harper reiterated his often-stated position additional security measures along America's Canada and U.S. borders risk damaging the close relationship between the countries.
But his comments were eclipsed by the aggressive Mexican politician, who will taking over from outgoing President Vicente Fox on Dec. 1.
U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law Thursday a bill that would erect a fence more than 1,000 kilometres long across the country's southern border, through which more than one million Mexicans enter the country illegally.
Calderon called the decision "deplorable."
"The wall will not solve the problem," he said. "Humanity made a huge mistake by building the Berlin wall and I believe that the United States is committing a grave error in building a wall on our border."
Not only will it be expensive for U.S. taxpayers, Calderon said, it will lead to an increase in the number of people who die each year seeking a more prosperous life in America.
"Over 400 people last year died trying to cross the border. What that decision is going to lead to is an increase in those fatalities."
On the U.S.'s northern border with Canada, the Bush administration recently announced plans to construct high-tech surveillance posts to guard against terrorists entering the country.
The Harper government, and its Liberal predecessor, lobbied hard in Washington to get the government to reverse this policy, as well as a border plan that would force Canadians and Americans to present passports or a form of secure identification when crossing into or out of the U.S. Those efforts have had little discernable impact.
Ottawa has argued it will hurt the economies of both countries, but particularly that of Canada, which relies on American tourism and American markets.
Harper said the situation in Mexico and that of Canada is much different, but he shares Bush's concern about safe borders.
"At the same time, we caution against things that can cause unnecessary barriers, not just to trade, but to the ordinary exchange of tourism and social relationships between our countries," he said.
The key document tying together the three NAFTA countries is the Security and Prosperity Partnership, a framework that seeks to balance the need for trade and border safety in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S.
Calderon said building walls around the U.S. will weaken efforts to advance that agenda.
"I deplore the building of this wall and I would urge us to seek out mechanisms that would lead to more security of the three nations without damaging our interests as this wall does."
