The White House on Thursday emphasized that it has a “constructive” relationship with Mexico and puts U.S. interests first in policy decisions, after the Mexican president made a number of demands related to immigration policy. He emphasized that
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has asked President Biden to lift sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela and provide $20 billion a year to Latin American and Caribbean countries in exchange for more action by the Mexican government. They called for aid remittances and the granting of legal status to illegal Mexican immigrants. Stop the surge of migrants to the U.S. border.
López Obrador was asked about these demands by 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi this week.
Mexican president says ‘migrant flow will continue’ unless US meets demands
Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador speaks during his daily briefing at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, Mexico, March 12, 2024. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
“What if they don’t do what you say they have to do?” she asked.
“The flow of migrants will continue,” Obrador responded.
Elsewhere in the interview, he emphasized the positive relationship between Mexico and the United States, calling it “very important” and “fundamental.” He also said Mexico plans to slow migration but wants to address the “root causes” of the crisis. He also said the United States will continue to work to ensure border security even if these demands are not met.
In response, the White House National Security Council spokesperson told Fox News Digital, pointing to comments Mexican leaders have made elsewhere in the country, Mexico is not just dealing with migrants, but drug traffickers. He said the two countries are “an important partner in multiple areas,” including economic cooperation. interview.
“As President López Obrador said in an interview on “60 Minutes” on Sunday, we need each other. We are in a moment of incredible promise and consequences for the United States and Mexico. “Mexico is our number one trading partner. Bilateral trade reached a record $860 billion in 2019,” the spokesperson said.
President Biden and Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Sophie Park/Hector Vivas)
The spokesperson cited the Biden administration’s strategy to address the immigration crisis, which includes addressing the “root causes” of immigration, as well as developing legal routes to the U.S. for migrants and increasing local enforcement. He said it was included. The spokesperson also referred to the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Asylum, signed in 2022, which commits countries to take steps to reduce migration in the Western Hemisphere.
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The spokesperson also said López Obrador and President Biden have a “constructive relationship built on respect.”
“President López Obrador is a critical partner for President Biden in developing a constructive bilateral approach to addressing issues of mutual interest, including immigration and counter-drug cooperation,” the spokesperson said. said.
However, the White House also emphasized that the national interest will be the basis for policy decisions.
“As President López Obrador has said, both Mexico and the United States are sovereign nations. We can have frank, candid and respectful conversations, and at the end of the day, our policy decisions are based on the best interests of the nation. will take place in the United States,” the spokesperson said.
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The Mexican president’s comments came a day before the Guatemalan president met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss cooperation on migration.
President Biden and former President Trump visited the southern border with Mexico last month, and immigration is expected to be a top issue in the November election. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is locked in a legal battle with Texas over border security.
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Republicans are calling on the administration to reinstate Trump-era policies such as the Remain in Mexico policy, which keeps migrants in Mexico until their asylum claims are completed.
