As Republican lawmakers and governors toughen their anti-immigrant rhetoric and criticize the Biden administration for its handling of the border, Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed that collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico has never been better.
"At least from my perspective, the collaboration, the work between the governments of Mexico and the United States has never been stronger, never been greater," said Blinken before a meeting he and other Biden administration officials held in Washington with Mexico's and Guatemala's foreign ministers.
Blinken stated that the trilateral meeting underscored the necessity to "double down" on collaboration to address the challenges of migratory flows in the region.
He said that while his government recognizes that more people are being forced to migrate than at any time in history, it needs the cooperation of its regional partners for "safe and orderly migration."
According to the Department of State, the three delegations agreed on the urgency of addressing the root causes of irregular migration and displacement.
"Participants also emphasized the need to foster economic productivity, foster supply chains between our countries, and create jobs in the region," said the office of the Department of State's spokesperson in a press release.
The meeting was also attended by Mexico's Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena and Guatemala's Carlos Ramíro Martínez as well as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood Randall.
The U.S. and Mexico have held several high-level meetings to address what many define as a 'migration crisis' at the southern border.
In late December 2023, Blinken and Mayorkas were in Mexico City, joining President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and some members of his cabinet for an emergency meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayorkas stated that they had a 'very productive' discussion during which they sought López Obrador's assistance in preventing unauthorized border crossings.
Despite all concerted efforts, the Biden administration has faced criticism from Republican lawmakers.
Besides, from Georgia to Arizona to Texas, Republican leaders have doubled down on their anti-immigrant rhetoric.
In Georgia, Republicans in the state House are seeking to promote an initiative that would allow law enforcement agencies to identify and detain undocumented migrants for deportation.
In Arizona, Republican state legislators are advocating for a bill that would permit property owners to shoot and kill individuals accused of trespassing on their property. This initiative would extend to migrants who might be apprehended while attempting to enter the U.S. through ranches along the border.
Meanwhile, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has promoted and implemented several measures to combat what he and other Republican politicians label as an 'invasion' of people crossing the border without permission. These measures involve the use of police force to detain suspected unauthorized border crossers.
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