This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Salt Lake City -- Mexican President Vicente Fox called Tuesday for a comprehensive solution to illegal immigration to the United States but criticized proposals for a fence along the two countries' border.

Fox made the remarks in the first stop of a four-day visit to three Western states that comes as the United States is engaged in an intense debate over how to deal with a flood of illegal immigration into this country in recent years.

Speaking to a gathering of the Latino community, Fox called for "comprehensive" immigration reform that would allow for "legal, safe, orderly migration, respecting fully human rights and dignity."

But, he added, "We don't put up walls. That's not the way you're going to fix the problem."

The U.S. Senate is struggling to pass a immigration package, while the House has approved a measure for a border fence and strict enforcement of immigration laws. President Bush recently called for National Guard troops along the border to assist border patrol agents, as well as a fence along portions of the border.

Fox said Mexico and the United States are partners and that continuing development and properity is contingent upon comprehensive immigration reform along the guidelines he outlined.

"Mexico wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.," Fox said.

Tuesday night, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. played host to Fox at a state dinner at the Governor's Mansion. The dinner was attended by 63 people, and included a menu of roasted rack of spring lamb, rainbow trout with roasted mushrooms, and mixed organic greens along with several wines. Cigars and after-dinner drinks were provided. A children's choir performed for the Mexican president and guests. Joining Fox and Huntsman at the head table were their wives and President James Faust of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Some 100 anti-illegal immigration protesters gathered outside the mansion could not be heard inside. Toting American flags and large banners - "Hey, Vicente, what part of the border did you sneak across?" one said - demonstrators yelled and chanted at the Mexican president's motorcade as he arrived for the State Dinner but they dispersed soon afterward.

Earlier in the day, Fox avoided the volatile issue of illegal immigration as he kicked off his visit with a luncheon speech to about 500 Utah business and civic leaders. Fox ticked off what he described as the strengthening of his country's economy during his six-year term in office, touching upon the growing opportunities that growth offers for trade with businesses in Utah and the rest of the United States.

Today entrepreneurs, investors and and citizens in general enjoy unprecedented legal security in Mexico," Fox said. No democracy can fully flourish unless it provides economic freedom. It encourages entrepreneurship and allows the social advancement of its people."

Fox did not mention immigration although some in attendance at his speech viewed his presence in Utah as representing an unspoken call for increased civil dialogue and less hostility on that hot-button issue.

It certainly can be looked upon as sending a message that people need to keep cooler heads and attempt to find common ground to discuss ways to solve that problem," said Wayne Holland Jr., state chairman of the Utah Democratic Party.

Fox's visit through Utah, Washington and California comes amid an impassioned national debate over illegal immigration and U.S.-Mexico border security. The U.S. Senate is struggling to craft an immigration-reform bill that simultaneously toughens border security and offers a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented workers.

Fox appears likely to do most of his diplomacy in private during his Western swing. The only planned news conference in Utah during his visit was canceled due to scheduling changes," and reporters were told Monday that the Mexican president would not take any questions from the news media at any of his Utah appearances.

In sticking to his economic themes Tuesday, Fox noted that Mexico is the United State's second largest trading partner. It buys more products and services from the United States than Italy, France, German and England combined.

He pointed to a wide range of statistics that show Mexico's economy is growing and indicated there are great opportunities in Mexico in tourism, investment in infrastructure, energy, mining as well as food production and agriculture.

For many Mexican-Americans, who number in the tens of thousands in Utah, Fox's visit was an historic occasion.

Maria Cruz Mora and her friend Jorge Benitez, eager to see and hear Fox speak at West Valley City's Utah Cultural Celebration Center, arrived more than three hours befor his speech.

He's Mexican, and I want to hear from my president," said Mora, a Mexican national who moved to Utah four years ago. She hopes Fox will open up about immigration, particularly when the U.S. and Mexican governments are trying to forge new remedies for the tide of immigrants into the United States.

There are a lot of Mexicans here, and they're scared," Mora said. I want it to be fixed so there won't be any problems."

Graciela Javier-Bartholomew, who moved from Mexico 13 years ago to attend Brigham Young University, agreed. She said she sees Fox as a spokesman for the Mexican community anywhere they are.

"Trade is good, she said, referring to the discussions between business leaders from both nations. "I want to know what is he doing for Mexico.

When Fox arrived in Salt Lake City early afternoon Tuesday, he was greeted not only by Huntsman Jr., and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson but by the 15 players with the Liga Latina Infantil baseball team.

The team's coach, Ronaldo Luzanilla of West Valley City, is a factory worker who moved from Mexico to Utah seven years ago. He's also the Spanish announcer for the Salt Lake Bees baseball team's Sunday games.

Luzanilla said Fox's visit would help the two governments maintain a good relationship and would buoy the growing population of Mexicans in the Beehive State.

"We feel proud of our president, Luzanilla said. "With this visit we feel closer with our families and people in Mexico.

The status of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the United States also is a major political issue in Mexico. Opponents have criticized Fox for not protesting strenuously enough against U.S. efforts to built a fence at the border and to use National Guard troops to help close off illegal immigration.

Fox leaves office in December due to term limits. The Mexican presidential election to chose his successor is July 2.

Nonetheless, a University of Utah professor said Fox's visit to Utah is important because he "hasn't been very successful in pushing and implementing his policy agenda.

That's partly because Fox's party does not hold a majority in the Mexican Congress, said Claudio Holzner, a political science professor who does research on political participation in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Holzner said Fox's top priorities have been U.S. immigration reform, reforming the tax code and privatizing the oil and electrical industries.

"He's trying to achieve some policy success, and he's had trouble doing that with the (U.S.) federal government, Holzner said. "So he wants to meet with state leaders as a way to bypass the federal government that has been less cooperative, especially on immigration.

--Reporter Lisa Rosetta and The Associated Press contributed to this story