President Arévalo emphasized the desire for a border that unites the Mexican and Guatemalan people, fostering development and growth through collaboration and trust. Both countries face pressure from the United States to enhance border control to manage the flow of migrants and address security concerns.
Concerns about security in the border area were raised by President López Obrador, citing clashes between Mexican cartels vying for control of drug, migrant, and weapons trafficking routes.
The meeting coincides with heightened diplomatic efforts between the United States, Mexico, and other regional countries to address migration issues ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Plans include directing more resources to the Mexico-Guatemala border, accelerating development programs, and potentially issuing more temporary work visas for Guatemalan labor in Mexico.
Mexico announced plans to extend a cargo train line to the Guatemalan border and expressed interest in extending the Maya Train project to Guatemala's Peten jungle.
For migrants, critical points in their journey include the Darien Gap on the Colombia-Panama border and the Mexico-Guatemala border. Panama's President-elect has pledged to curb traffic through the Darien, while Panama's outgoing immigration chief highlighted challenges in carrying out mass deportations.
Mexico's foreign minister emphasized the importance of the shared Mexico-Guatemala-Belize border, acknowledging the difficulties in policing the long, mountainous, and remote region. The aim is to create a welcoming space without walls, offering opportunities to those who cross.
Migrants traveling through Mexico often face robbery, kidnapping by organized crime, and extortion by authorities. Despite efforts to contain or return them to the south, many migrants persist in their journey north.
