By TRACI CARL
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - Migration, security, water issues and deportations are all on the agenda as Mexican President Vicente Fox and President Bush prepare to meet this weekend in Texas, the latest sign of mended ties between the two countries.

Mexico was Bush's first trip overseas as U.S. president. But relations between the two leaders were later strained after Fox refused to back the Iraq war and canceled a previous trip to Texas to see Bush because the state executed a Mexican man.

Bush also upset many Mexican lawmakers when he pushed aside plans for a migration accord between the two countries, saying terrorism concerns were more important after Sept. 11.

In January, however, relations began to warm and Bush announced new plans for a migration agreement that would give visas to Mexicans with U.S. jobs. During a meeting in January in northern Mexico, Bush invited Fox to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, and Fox accepted.

During their meeting Friday and Saturday in Crawford, the two leaders will discuss what progress has been made on a possible accord.

At a news conference Tuesday, Geronimo Gutiérrez, undersecretary for North American affairs at the Foreign Relations Department, said Mexican officials have been in close contact with the U.S. Congress and are tracking the different proposals.

He also called Bush's plan, ``a step in the right direction.''

Both leaders also will discuss a controversial plan to deport illegal migrants to their hometowns, instead of dropping them along the border.

During a visit to Mexico earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Mexico had agreed to the program, although no agreement had been reached on whether it would be voluntary.

Mexico has opposed past efforts to repatriate migrants to their hometowns, saying it violates Mexicans' constitutional right to free movement within their country.

U.S. officials have argued that Mexican migrants dropped off at the border simply try to cross again.

Bush and Fox also will discuss measures to increase security along the border without delaying traffic and commerce. Although there has been no evidence that terrorists are targeting the United States from Mexico, Mexico recently canceled several flights due to U.S. concerns.

Another major topic will be Mexico's water debt to the United States. Gutiérrez said Mexico may be able to make additional payments this year to reduce the 1.3 million acre-feet of water Mexico owes under the terms of a 1944 water-sharing treaty.

The death penalty is also likely to come up again.

Mexico has asked the World Court to investigate whether dozens of Mexicans on Death Row in the United States were denied their right to legal help from the Mexican government.