Mexico pledges $1.5 bln to bolstering border with U.S.

Record ID: 1680970

  • Title: Mexico pledges $1.5 bln to bolstering border with U.S.
  • Date: 13th July 2022
  • Summary: EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2022) (REUTERS) MIGRANTS AT BORDER, BORDER PATROL OFFICIALS CHECKING DOCUMENTS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ENTERING BORDER PATROL VEHICLES MIGRANTS QUEUING, BORDER PATROL VEHICLES IN BACKGROUND WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2022) (REUTERS) OFFICIAL VEHICLES OUTSIDE MEXICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO, KEN SALAZAR, BEFORE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO, KEN SALAZAR, SAYING: "So we've been working on a joint plan which is really part of the statement the President (Biden) made yesterday. For the first time in history there is a plan that's been put together in both United States side, with our investment and all of our resources. And on the Mexican side. What Mexico committed to do yesterday was to put in the investments that are needed on the Mexican side of the border and keep projects." SALAZAR BEFORE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO, KEN SALAZAR, SAYING: "I'll mention one, is the Otay Mesa, which is the next major crossing between the United States and Mexico which is highly supported by the business community, by the state of California, because it is key to the supply chain and the commerce. We have put significant resources on that particular bridge to create the most modern 21st century bridge ever, and Mexico had to do its part, so it committed to do its part and a whole some other things that are going on. [Reporter asks: Will there be security to stop the illegal crossings? Is that included in the 1.5 billion?] Security is key, we have to have secure borders and all across is one of the major agendas that we are working on." EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2022) (REUTERS) MIGRANTS STANDING NEXT TO BORDER PATROL OFFICIAL BORDER PATROL OFFICIALS CHECKING MIGRANTS' BAGS CHILDREN AMONG MIGRANTS STANDING NEXT TO BORDER PATROL OFFICIAL CHILDREN ON GROUND / BORDER PATROL VEHICLES IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS BOARDING BUS
  • Embargoed: 27th July 2022 20:44
  • Keywords: Joe Biden Lopez Obrador Mexico United States border immigration migrants
  • Location: EAGLE PASS, TEXAS & WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: EAGLE PASS, TEXAS & WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001166713072022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Mexico on Wednesday (July 13) pledged to spend $1.5 billion to beef up its northern border as its leader met with U.S. President Joe Biden, who faces attacks from Republicans over his handling of immigration on the United States' southern flank.
    The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, said both nations had been working on a joint plan which includes investment and resources on both sides.
    Casting immigration as a "hemispheric challenge," Biden met Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and top Mexican officials in the White House to address U.S. concerns over migration and Mexico's desire for more worker visas.
    In a joint statement, the two governments vowed to take "immediate and coordinated steps to manage the flows of migrants arriving into our countries" and to tackle soaring inflation by boosting bilateral trade and reducing trade costs.
    The meeting came a month after Lopez Obrador skipped the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles to protest Biden's decision to exclude the leftist governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
    Biden has struggled with more than 2.8 million arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border since he took office at the beginning of 2021, a record-setting level.
    Footage from Wednesday (July 13) showed migrants entering border patrol vehicles at Eagle Pass, Texas.
    Biden touted a $3.4 billion U.S. investment to upgrade ports of entry along the borders with Mexico and Canada that was part of his bipartisan infrastructure plan passed last year, which he said would make the border safer and more efficient.
    Mexico would spend $1.5 billion in border infrastructure between 2022 and 2024, the two governments said. Much of that money has been flagged in recent weeks.
    The projects were for the U.S.-Mexico border, aimed at reinforcing infrastructure, extending and upgrading border crossings, as well as for the new Otay Mesa II port of entry between Tijuana and San Diego, a Mexican official said.
    Lopez Obrador called on the United States to allow for more legal work visas, but Biden only went as far as highlighting existing programs used by Mexicans and Central Americans.
    (Production: Ted Hesson, Go Nakumara, Andrea Rodriguez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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