Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray met in Dallas with the heads of Mexico's 11 consulates in Texas. He expressed his appreciation for their work, which is important because of Texas’s geographic proximity and economic and social ties with Mexico.
During the meeting, the various forms of consular protection carried out by the Foreign Ministry were reviewed. The Foreign Secretary reiterated Mexico's respect for the United States’ legal framework, and the importance of the rule of law and due process in immigration issues. He instructed the consuls to keep the Mexican community informed about key issues, such as the recently passed Texas SB4 law.
The Foreign Secretary and the consuls also spoke with organizations that focus on civil rights and immigration issues. The Foreign Secretary reiterated that Mexico's priority is to ensure that the rights of Mexicans are respected. He said that Mexico is ready now, as it has been in the past, to take any necessary steps to protect the rights of the Mexicans living in the United States.
Texas is Mexico's main trading partner. Of all the U.S. states, it exports the most to Mexico. In 2016, Mexico-Texas trade totaled USD 173.711 billion. Since NAFTA's entry into force, exports from Texas to Mexico have increased by 355 percent (from 1994 to 2016).