Today, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard met with a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. During the meeting, held at the Foreign Ministry, the delegations exchanged the most recent data and information on migration in the region.
Both delegations agreed on the importance of advancing a regional approach to migration to achieve orderly, safe and regular migration that protects migrants' human rights. In addition, Secretaries Ebrard and Mayorkas agreed that regional agreements leading to orderly, safe and regular migration must be built.
At the meeting, Foreign Secretary Ebrard emphasized the need to accelerate international cooperation to address the root causes of irregular migration, particularly in northern Central America. Secretary Mayorkas and Ambassador Ken Salazar agreed on the need to strengthen efforts in this area both by the United States and jointly with Mexico.
Lastly, both delegations agreed to accelerate efforts to modernize border infrastructure and procedures. Specifically, they agreed that the new Otay Mesa II – Otay Mesa East international border crossing in the Calibaja region is a strategic bilateral priority.
The Mexican delegation, led by Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, included National Migration Institute (INM) Commissioner Francisco Garduño; Public Security Undersecretary Ricardo Mejía; the adviser to the INM commissioner, Armando López; and, from the Foreign Ministry, Chief Officer for North America Roberto Velasco; Director General of Political Coordination Ximena Escobedo; the Coordinator of Strategy for North America, Arturo Rocha; and the Director of North American Border Affairs, Pablo Gálvez.
The United States delegation, led by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, included the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar; the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath; the Senior Director for Transborder Issues at the National Security Council, Katie Tobin; DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Serena Hoy; DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Blas Núñez Nieto; Deputy Chief of Staff, DHS, Jeffrey Rezmovic; and the DHS Attaché at the US Embassy in Mexico, Edgar Ramírez.
