Opinion: When Vicente Met Antonio

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As the city shut down for the Memorial Day weekend, Mexican President Vicente Fox wrapped up his four-day U.S. tour in L.A. today — the end of his first California visit in five years. Fox met with two leading local immigration-reform backers, Mayor Antonia Villaraigosa and Cardinal Roger Mahony, as well as labor leaders. The Times reports tomorrow that Villaraigosa tried to avoid talking about immigration, which he called a federal matter. The mayor stuck to his trade-mission talking points with reporters, while Fox said “a legal, safe, orderly immigration policy will benefit the security and prosperity of both our nations.”

Spanish-language daily La Opinion reported that Fox applauded yesterday’s Senate vote for comprehensive immigration reform, saying it would help the two countries focus their attention on security and economic growth. “We are your allies in the war against drugs and crime,” he said in a meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Yesterday Fox told reporters Mexico is “promoting economic growth and social opportunities so that migration is no longer a necessity,” the Times noted. Since Fox was last in California, some 5 million people have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.