Biden adviser says there is “no disagreement” on immigration between Mexico and the US

Washington, November 19 (EFE). – There is “no disagreement” between the United States and Mexico over immigration, the White House adviser in charge of Latin America, Juan Gonzalez, said, a day after the Mexican government demanded the United States “stop turning away immigrants.”
In an interview with Efe after the Ninth Summit of North American Leaders, which took place at the White House on Thursday, US Presidential Adviser Joe Biden also confirmed that at that meeting they discussed energy reform in Mexico and policy toward Cuba and Venezuela.
Question: In his speech during the summit, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador asked the United States to “stop rejecting immigrants.” This message seems to contradict the message of the United States, because you asked for more cooperation from the entire continent to contain the arrival of illegal immigrants to the southern border. Is there a dispute with Mexico in this regard?
Answer: No, there is no disagreement, because it is recognized here that we are a nation of immigrants and (what we want) is not to stop immigration, but to administer it in an orderly, fair and dignified manner. That is why the president is advancing on congressional reforms to the immigration system, but sees the immigration issue as an integral part, and in this area he had a lot in common with President Lopez Obrador. It is not only (it) reforms to the immigration system (…) and investment in the roots of migration, security and prosperity in the region. (must) apply the laws too, because what is happening at the moment is that there are human traffickers taking advantage of individuals who are in very difficult situations; And what we do is we go after people who traffic in people, we don’t stop immigration, (but) we manage it in an organized way.
Mexico against “xenophobia”
Q: Was it clear to you what President Lopez Obrador was referring to when he talked about “stop rejecting immigrants,” if he was talking about undocumented or instead asking for more legal work visas?
A: I think a lot of what President Lopez Obrador has said speaks – not just here in the United States, but in Europe and in the region – about xenophobia against certain groups. Here I think it’s something that has been used politically, and I think the approach of this administration is that we are a diverse nation, (…) we are all immigrants and we should celebrate that diversity. In terms of temporary work, we have H1A visa programs and others, in Mexico they also have temporary work arrangements, which is one of the proposals that is a priority for President Lopez Obrador and is part of the conversations that we have with Mexico.
Q: But at the border, the US continues to deport most undocumented people who arrive, without being able to claim asylum, under the procedure known as Address 42. The borders with Mexico and Canada have already been opened for non-essential transit. How long will Title 42 remain in effect?
A: Well, that’s a public health issue, and until the situation changes – we’re still in the middle of a pandemic – Title 42 will continue to be used. But yes, the goal is to (raise it) when we can deal with the pandemic, which is why it was such a central part of the meeting between the two leaders : How to cooperate more closely to fight the pandemic, to get to a level where the public health situation is really changing and we can have borders that work and that can address the migration flow in a dignified and responsible way.
Energy reform, Cuba and Venezuela
Q: During your bilateral meeting, did President Biden raise his concerns with President Lopez Obrador about energy reform in Mexico?
A: The president did talk about the energy issue, but he talked about it from the context of the investments we’re making in this country, the direction we’re going to take in terms of climate change, the need for Canada and Mexico. To work together on that, we can take full advantage of that, based on the opportunity cost and opportunity, and the will is there to keep talking and try to resolve any difference.
Q: And did President Biden raise concern about Mexico’s policy toward Cuba, which contradicts the more hardline line of the United States?
A: The President talked about his vision for America, especially the $1.2 trillion infrastructure fund, the “Building Back Better” (Social Spending) passed by the House, and how it will transform the US economy. states in a dramatic way. Why is this considered appropriate for Cuba? Because the challenges facing our democracy are similar to those faced by other countries in the region. Today there are fewer democracies in the world and in the hemisphere than there were ten years ago, and the President spoke of the need for everyone to work to advance and protect democracy, whether it be Cuba or Venezuela or our countries, to ensure that we create opportunity, defend human and civil rights For everyone in the hemisphere. It was part of the conversation between the three leaders, as they were all very excited about the best responses to these kinds of challenges. And the president, yes, in this tripartite context he talked about Venezuela, but also the United States, how we have to invest here in the middle class, we have to work towards consensus.
Q: Do you see the possibility that after this meeting, Mexico will change its position on Cuba?
A: This is Mexico’s decision. The main thing here between the three countries is that the United States has a strategic alliance with these three countries (…) and we will not always agree, but here there is a will from us to dialogue from the grounds of goodwill to trying to resolve these issues. We have institutional mechanisms (…) to be able to work closely on these issues (…) Mexico’s policy towards Cuba is the subject of the President of Mexico and the Mexicans. We have our views on Cuba and we will talk about these issues in an open manner.
Lucia Lil