• Governor Katie Hobbs emphasized that Mexico is Arizona's main trading partner and reiterated to Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente that she would continue to coordinate closely with the Mexican government
  • In Phoenix, Secretary de la Fuente oversaw the consulate’s protection services and legal defense actions for Mexican nationals
  • The Secretary met with state legislative leaders and visited the ICE Detention and Processing Center to verify the proper handling of cases involving Mexican nationals

Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente met today in Phoenix, Arizona with Governor Katie Hobbs to discuss the strengths of the bilateral relationship, which is build on trade and the contributions of Mexican communities to the state’s social, cultural, and economic development.

Governor Hobbs said that Mexico is Arizona's main trading partner, and that the relationship creates benefits in employment, infrastructure, and tax revenue for the state. She reiterated that she would continue to coordinate closely with the Mexican government.

Secretary de la Fuente noted that trade between Arizona and Mexico totals 20 billion pesos annually and creates more than 100,000 jobs. He added that the governor’s perspective on migration and trade aligns well with Mexico's, and they would continue working together despite future challenges.

As part of his visit to oversee consular protection services and legal defense actions for Mexican nationals, and to strengthen the political dialogue with Arizona authorities, Secretary de la Fuente met with state legislative leaders. Senate President Warren Peterson led the meeting, accompanied by House Speaker Steve Montenegro and members of the House International Affairs Committee, chaired by Tony Rivero.

During their meeting, they exchanged views on the upcoming challenges and agreed to strengthen their coordination and cooperation, given the importance of the bilateral relationship.

At the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix, together with Mexico’s consuls from Nogales, Tucson, Douglas, and Yuma, Secretary de la Fuente met with community leaders, migrant advocacy organizations, outside counsel and PALE Program participants to review the legal defense strategy for Mexican nationals.

He emphasized that the Mexicans in the United States are not and will not be alone, and he explained the legal strategy coordinated by President Claudia Sheinbaum. This initiative brings together a legal team of 2,610 professionals through a combination of direct hires and partnerships with social organizations, lawyers, universities, churches, and community support networks.

"We have planned for and assembled diverse legal teams, because regardless of political decisions, everyone has fundamental rights, including migrants, and we are committed to ensuring these rights are both respected and protected,” he said during the meeting, where he was accompanied by Jorge Mendoza Yescas, Consul General in Phoenix, and Roberto Velasco, head of the Foreign Ministry's North American Unit.

Foreign Secretary de la Fuente met with ICE Arizona Representative John Cantú and visited the agency's Detention and Processing Center in Phoenix, where he spoke with Mexican nationals to ensure their cases were being handled appropriately and they were receiving consular assistance.

During his visit, he also met with Michael M. Crow, an expert in science and technology policy and president of Arizona State University, to develop partnerships for addressing the current challenges.

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