Pocono News Section

Former Mexican President Talks to Local High School Students

Former Mexican President Talks to Local High School Students - Monday, November 5, 2007 at 5:31PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday, Nov 5, 2007 @05:31pm EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Former Mexican President Vincente Fox greets local high school students in Spanish at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre.

Nearly 100 students were able to ask questions at this open forum. Dallas High School Senior David Hunter says, "I believe that in order to truly understand the place the united states plays on a world stage, you need to understand how other leaders view us."

Fox agrees, and wanted students to hear a first hand account of issues in Mexico. Fox said, "Part of the lack of understanding comes the lack of information of what's going on in Mexico."

Fox answered some questions relating to illegal immigration and how it affects Mexico. Fox says, "We're eroding our own capacity to grow to the future. We need our people in Mexico, we want them to stay in Mexico. They want to stay in Mexico. They would rather be with their families."

Some students were eager to hear both sides of the issue. Dallas Senior Ally Evans says, "It's great to have the opportunity to listen to him talk about a really controversial issue in our country right now. And it's also good to hear the other side of it too."

Fox told students Mexico is a very modern nation, with a solid, sound economy, one he calls the most open in the world. Some students have been preparing to ask questions at this forum for months.

"Well when we found out about it, it was kind of like a person we were reading about, and then today, it kind of hit all of us, like wow. This man had reign over a country," said one student.

Fox answered questions for about a half an hour.