Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray ended his trip to the United States today in Washington, D.C.; the three-day trip began in Sacramento and Los Angeles, California.
In the U.S. capital, Dr. Videgaray met in the White House with Elaine Duke, Acting Secretary, and James D. Nealon, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, both of the Department of Homeland Security; and Kevin McAleenan, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
During the meeting, the most important issue discussed was the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. The Foreign Secretary reiterated that should the youths return, Mexico would benefit from their great energy and talent and that it would be a loss for the United States. However, added Dr. Videgaray, what the young people want is the certainty of staying in the U.S., and the Mexican government has the obligation to support them.
In that regard, he said that Mexico is working with the U.S. Congress to respectfully urge its member to find a solution that gives legal certainty to the Dreamers.
During the meeting, the officials also reviewed the border infrastructure agenda; the joint initiative to work together for development in Central America; and collaboration on fighting organized crime and on the labor mobility program.
Also on Foreign Secretary Videgaray’s agenda was a conversation with General H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Advisor, and members of his team, that focused on interagency coordination on different issues of the bilateral relationship.
Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President, and Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez attended both meetings.
In the afternoon, Foreign Secretary Videgaray and Ambassador Gutiérrez met with Nancy Pelosi (D), Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, to discuss the need for a legislative solution that gives legal certainty to the DACA youths.
On behalf of the Mexican government, the Foreign Secretary thanked Democratic leader Pelosi for her efforts to get recognition for the contributions made by thousands of Mexican Dreamers to their communities in the United States.