Vicente Fox

Mexican President Vicente Fox has visited a fruit orchard in the northwestern U.S. state of Washington and told farm workers there that the United States and Mexico must manage immigration together.

President Fox said Wednesday in the city of Yakima that both sides need to reach an agreement that can give security, legality and order to the flow of migrant people. He said immigration reform is a shared responsibility.

The Mexican president made his remarks ahead of a trip to Seattle, where he is due to meet with Hispanic business leaders, members of the Mexican-American community and visit a community health center.

His remarks Wednesday came on the same day the U.S. Senate voted to limit remaining debate on immigration reform legislation, paving the way for a vote on the bill, possibly as soon as Thursday.

From Washington, President Fox travels on to California, where he is to meet Thursday, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is Mexican-American. Mr. Fox began his three-state visit with a stop in Utah.