ROBERT SIEGEL, Host: From NPR News, it's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.</s>MICHELE NORRIS, Host: NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.</s>MICHELE KELEMEN: A day after he was wined and dined at the White House, Felipe Calderon got a warm welcome in Congress, at least when he was talking tough about battling Mexico's drug cartels.</s>FELIPE CALDERON: One of the main changes taking place in Mexico is our commitment to firmly establish the rule of law. That is why we are deploying the full force of the state to confront organized crime with determination and courage.</s>MICHELE KELEMEN: The room split along party lines, though, when he started talking about some of the help he needs from Congress. Calderon says he's worried about the flow of guns from the U.S. to Mexico. And he told lawmakers that the violence started to increase in his country soon after an assault rifle ban expired in the U.S. in 2004.</s>FELIPE CALDERON: I will ask Congress to help us with respect, and to understand how important it is for us that you enforce current laws to stamp the supply of these weapons to criminals and consider reinstating the assault weapons ban.</s>MICHELE KELEMEN: Only the Democrats and the large Mexican contingent stood up to applaud that line. The speech was not particularly well attended by members of Congress. Staffers in navy suits filled up all the empty seats, including several rows in the Republican section. And Calderon managed to split the crowd again on the need to fix what he called a broken immigration system.</s>FELIPE CALDERON: I am convinced that a comprehensive immigration reform is also crucial to securing our common border. However, I strongly disagree with the recently adopted law in Arizona.</s>MICHELE KELEMEN: Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon addressed a joint session of Congress on Thursday, and urged U.S. lawmakers to overhaul the immigration system and consider reinstating a ban on assault rifles.