Kirby says immigration will be a “major issue” during the Mexico summit
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council at the White House, speaks during a press conference at the White House on November 28, 2022 in Washington. (Image credit: Kevin Deitch/Getty Images)
The National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, John Kirby, told CNN that immigration “will be a major topic of discussion” during this week’s summit of North American leaders in Mexico City.
“There is no doubt that migration will be a major topic of discussion here for the next 24 to 36 hours. This is clearly on everyone’s mind here in the hemisphere.”
“I don’t want to get ahead of the president or what he’s going to be able to talk about at the end of the meeting, he’ll have a chance to speak publicly about that tomorrow, so I’ll leave that to him, but obviously they’ll talk about … strengthening capabilities at the border. And we’re grateful for the additional commitment that Mexico has made to receive and keep another 30,000 illegal immigrants in Mexico, after they have attempted to cross that border, and it will allow Mexico to talk about additional obligations that it may or may not be willing to make.”
Kirby said the leaders will also discuss the root causes of migration during Tuesday’s summit, noting Vice President Kamala Harris’ work on the issue and noting that it will be a major topic of conversation during the visit.
“Her focus on this particular trip to El Paso… was to spend as much time as possible with federal, state and local authorities, people who are really trying to handle immigration issues at the border and deal with immigrants themselves. Including religious leaders,” Kirby said. He really wanted to take the time and care of those on the ground working with these immigrants, so he could get a better sense of the challenges they faced, the resources they needed, and the skills they needed. That was really the focus of the visit.”
He declined to comment on whether they were considering expelling former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been hospitalized in Florida, telling CNN the administration is “not in a position to verify his whereabouts or physical condition at this time, any more than by saying we have Absolutely all indications that he’s still here in the US, appropriately in terms of visas, you know.”
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