Biden, López Obrador discuss migration, drug trafficking, Brazil riot
Mexico City, Jan 9 (EFE).- The presidents of the United States and Mexico met Tuesday in the Mexican capital where they discussed the new US immigration program, the fight against trafficking of fentanyl and the failed assault on democracy in Brazil.
Joe Biden and Andrés Manuel López Obrador held a bilateral meeting in the National Palace of Mexico a day ahead of the 10th North American Leaders’ Summit with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Biden and López Obrador “reaffirmed their commitment to implement innovative approaches to address irregular migration,” the White House reported in a statement.
They discussed the “recent announcement of additional enforcement actions” from the US, which plans to issue 30,000 permits a month to Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans and Haitians, but immediately deport to Mexico those who cross the border irregularly.
They also pledged to “address the root causes of migration” on the continent.
In terms of drugs, Biden and López Obrador evaluated strategies to “prosecute drug traffickers and dismantle criminal networks disrupt the supply of illicit precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, shut down drug laboratories, and prevent trafficking of drugs, arms, and people.”
The pair also “discussed the violent protests in Brazil and reiterated that the free will of the people of Brazil and its democracy has the support of the United States and Mexico,” the White House said of the attack on congress, the presidential palace and the supreme court by ultra-right followers of former leader Jair Bolsonaro.
In commercial matters, they discussed their shared vision for “greater economic integration,” including chip and semiconductor manufacturing.
Regarding the environment, they discussed the commitments made by Mexico to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the economic opportunities of the clean energy transition, such as the manufacturing of electric vehicles and batteries.
At the beginning of the meeting, open to journalists, Biden said that Mexico is a true partner to the US and used cooperation on immigration between the two countries as an example.
López Obrador asked him to “end this oblivion, this abandonment, this disdain for Latin America and the Caribbean” and move towards the economic integration of the entire continent, and not just North America.
On Monday night, López Obrador, Biden and Trudeau have an official dinner at the National Palace and on Tuesday they will meet at the trilateral table, where they are expected to discuss migration, drug trafficking and energy issues. EFE
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