Rice: U.S., Mexico 'well past' differences
'The relationship with Mexico is one of our most important'
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National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox have had "a couple of very good conversations."
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States and Mexico are "well past" any differences over the Iraq war and the status of millions of illegal Mexican nationals in the United States, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Friday.
"They've [Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox] had a couple of very good conversations including one just the other day," Rice said at a news conference to outline Bush's trip to Mexico next week. "Obviously, we went through a difficult time about Iraq, but the relationship with Mexico is one of our most important, one of our closest."
Bush will travel to Mexico on Monday for the Summit of Americas, where he will talk with various regional leaders including Fox.
This week, Bush outlined a plan to revamp the nation's immigration laws and allow millions of illegal immigrants to obtain legal status as temporary workers. (Full story, Audio Slide Show: Reactions to the plan)
Illegal immigrants already in the United States can apply for the temporary worker program only if they already have a job. The special status would last for three years and could be renewed once, for a total stay of six years. If temporary workers failed to stay employed or broke the law, they would be sent home, Bush said. (Gallery: Bush proposal draws mixed reaction)
Bush said the new legal status would allow illegal immigrants to travel back to their home countries without the fear they would not be allowed to return to the United States, and he said it also would help keep immigrants from being abused or exploited.
There are about 5 million undocumented Mexican workers in the United States.
Although the Mexican leader has previously pushed for legal status of the undocumented workers, Fox praised Bush's proposal Thursday.
"The immigration plan [will] clearly recognize the worth of the Mexican men and women who are working there in the United States," Fox said.
"They can have all the rights that any other worker in that country has, even though they do not have American citizenship or documents at the moment."
