Drugs, immigration on agenda as Calderon visits US

Mexican President Felipe Calderon is travelling to Washington amid domestic pressure to defend Mexican immigrants following the adoption of a controversial law in the US state of Arizona. The law allows the detention of people suspected of entering the US illegally.

Reuters

Calderon, who is expected to seek immigration reform in the United States in the wake of the Arizona law, will also be under pressure to produce results in his war against drug cartels.

He will be looking to convince US lawmakers that drug violence in Mexico is not spiralling out of control, despite ongoing killings and the suspected abduction of Diego Fernandez de Cevallos.

Cevallos is a former presidential candidate and senior member of Calderon's own National Action Party (PAN).

Calderon's visit will include a state dinner at the White House - only the second such function for US President Barack Obama. The Mexican leader is also scheduled to speak to a joint session of the US Congress.

The question of how to deal with an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, mostly from Mexico, stymied the Bush administration and has gone untackled so far by Obama.

Supporters of the Arizona law say it is an expression of the frustration felt by Americans who want action against illegal migration. Opponents are to demonstrate against it in the state on 29 March.

Calderon has condemned the law, and warned Mexicans about travelling to the south-west US state in a rare advisory.