Here in the United States, President Bush has signed legislation to build new walling on the border with Mexico. The 700 mile-long barrier would run along parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The President held a signing ceremony Thursday at the White House.

President Bush: “Ours is a nation of immigrants. We’re also a nation of law. Unfortunately, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades and, therefore, illegal immigration has been on the rise. We have a responsibility to address these challenges. We have a responsibility to enforce our laws. We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility seriously.”

Critics are accusing the Bush administration of using the signing ceremony as a political tool to motivate support among anti-immigrant voters. The President already approved $1.2 billion dollars in spending for the wall in a bill signed earlier this month. And limits imposed by Congress call into question whether the money will go towards a physical barrier. Meanwhile, the wall continues to meet vigorous opposition in Mexico. On Thursday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the US embassy in Mexico City.

Unidentified protester: “We reject the wall because it is a total cancellation of the human rights of the Mexican people and mainly because we know that the economy of the United States is supported by the efforts of the workers.”

Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon also repeated his government’s opposition to the barrier. He spoke Thursday during a visit to Canada.

Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon: “I would like to repeat that it seems to us a deplorable decision that the United States Congress and the government has made to go ahead and build a wall along the border. Walls do not resolve anything, humanity made a grave error when a wall was built in Berlin and I am certain that today, the United States has made a grave error in making the decision to construct a wall.”