Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray met today with young beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA), also known as Dreamers, to reaffirm the Mexican government’s commitment to provide them with all necessary support, including consular protection and legal advice and representation.
He said that, although U.S. immigration policy is determined by its society and institutions, the Mexican Foreign Ministry is using all the political and diplomatic resources available to it to make the U.S. Congress aware of the importance of finding a solution that enables the Dreamers to stay in the U.S.
Speaking at the Mexican consulate in Sacramento to a group of young Mexicans who live in California, Secretary Videgaray said, “We firmly believe that Congress will do the right thing and provide you with a permanent legal solution.”
The Foreign Secretary stressed that should DACA youths return to Mexico, it would be a “great gift” for our country and a big loss for the United States, since they are a group with a high educational level (mainly university students), talent, creativity and energy.
However, he said the economic needs of the United States or Mexico should not be what decides whether or not the Dreamers stay; it should be based on their desire to remain in the U.S.
“It would be a pleasure for Mexico to receive the DACA youths. They are talented human capital for our country. But if they want to stay in the country where they have grown up, we have a legal and moral obligation to help them achieve their dreams. They were born in Mexico, but have grown up here, in the United States; their family, home and neighborhood are here, and here is where they want to grow up and prosper,” said the Foreign Secretary.
More than 222,000 DACA beneficiaries reside in California, most of them of Mexican background.
While in Sacramento, Foreign Secretary Videgaray also met with California Governor Jerry Brown, with whom he agreed that the relationship between the state and Mexico is an excellent one. The two officials said that our country and California are strategic partners, not only because of their geographic proximity, but also because of the current intense political, economic, energy-related, social and cultural ties.
They both agreed on the importance of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, given that many of the jobs in California and most of its exports to Mexico depend on it.
In addition, the Foreign Secretary met with the Speaker of the California State Assembly, Anthony Rendón, and the President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate, Kevin de León, as well as senators from the Latino Caucus, led by Senator Ben Hueso.
At these meetings, Foreign Secretary Videgaray commended the leadership of the legislators and the state government in integrating and defending the rights of the immigrant community. He also reaffirmed Mexico’s commitment to continuing to cooperate in the fight against climate change and in developing sustainable energies.
The Foreign Secretary also met with business executives from the California Chamber of Commerce, who exchanged ideas on bilateral economic promotion and the importance of NAFTA for the region’s development and prosperity.
Lastly, the Foreign Secretary held a meeting with the staff of the Mexican consulate in Sacramento, thanking them for their work on behalf of their fellow citizens.
Mexico sees California as an ally on key issues such as bilateral trade, immigration, climate change and energy efficiency. Bilateral trade between Mexico and California totaled USD 71.615 billion in 2016. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 117,591 Mexicans living in Sacramento, 87% of the city’s Hispanic population.