POLITICS + GOVERNMENT

Former Mexican president calls for bridges, not walls during U of U speech

Feb 12, 2019, 7:34 PM | Updated: 7:41 pm

(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)...

(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)

(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH – It’s a rare visit from a former world leader at the University of Utah.  Former Mexican President Vincente Fox spoke to the crowd about border security and better trade between the U.S. and Mexico.

The former Mexican president acknowledged there is friction between his country and the U.S. over the topic of immigration and border walls.  However, he believes the best solution is to boost the economy of Mexico, which would improve trade with the U.S.

“What could be better for the United States then to have a successful neighbor down south?” he asks.

Fox says the North American Free Trade Agreement has improved Mexico’s economy by a massive amount.  He claims the value of work was worth an average of twelve times more in the U.S. than it was in Mexico before that deal was struck.

Fox adds, “By learning how to swim, or to jump walls, you’d make 12 dollars [instead of one].  Who of you would not go after that incentive?”

He took jabs at the concept of building more walls between the two countries.  Fox says the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall both eventually failed.

“It didn’t work.  People just jumped it or people just destroyed it,” Fox says.

The crowd inside Kingsbury Hall was sympathetic to Fox and his message.  One woman who attended the speech strongly agreed with Fox’s stance on border walls.

“We are all immigrants.  I think his perspective on that was refreshing,” she says.

However, there was a small group of protesters who stood outside the event, saying they support stronger border security.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Politics + Government

rep phil lyman shown, he made comments about the bridge collapse in maryland...

Heather Peterson

LISTEN: Utah Rep. Phil Lyman blames Baltimore bridge collapse on DEI

Rep. Phil Lyman said the bridge collapse is because of "governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens."

1 day ago

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning January 4, 2024 in...

MARK SHERMAN

Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used pill

Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and cleared the way for bans or severe restrictions on abortion in many Republican-led states, abortion opponents on Tuesday will ask the high court to ratify a ruling from a conservative federal appeals court that would limit access to the medication mifepristone, which was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States last year.

2 days ago

File - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, USA, Oct. 14, 2022. Instagram has star...

Associated Press

New Instagram feature limits display of political content

Instagram has started an automatic clamp down on the amount of political content appearing in its users' feeds.

3 days ago

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene...

Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer and Kristin Wilson, CNN

Marjorie Taylor Greene files surprise motion to oust Speaker Johnson, a sign of growing revolt from the right

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filed a motion, seeking to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his position.

3 days ago

U.S. Second Gentleman Doug , and Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to President Biden and Director of the W...

Bridger Beal-Cvetko

Second gentleman, White House official tout federal funding to remove lead pipes in SLC

The Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, visited with Salt Lake leaders Friday to tout federal investment in the workforce and clean drinking water.

5 days ago

FILE: A woman holds flavored vape on May 30, 2023. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)...

Allessandra Harris

Flavored vape products will no longer be sold in Utah

Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill this week that will ban the sale of flavored vape products in the state,

5 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Former Mexican president calls for bridges, not walls during U of U speech