Rev. Jackson blasts Fox comment

WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- Rev. Jesse Jackson is criticing Mexican President Vicente Fox for saying Mexican immigrants in the United States take jobs "that not even blacks want to do."

Jackson told a phone interview with CNN that Fox "should not confuse the need for sound legal immigration policy between the two countries, which is important, and the border disputes between the two countries, with a spurious comparison."

Fox told a group of Texas businessmen Friday in Mexico that steps taken by the United States to curb illegal immigration were bad for the U.S. economy.

"There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work, are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States," he said, in Spanish.

Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Derbez said Fox's remark was not meant as an insult.

"The president didn't make a declaration in the racist sense; of course there are those who interpret it in that way," Derbez said. He said Fox was making the point that "Mexican migrants are making great contributions in the United States and that their role is a positive role."