Mexican and United States officials agreed in a meeting on Tuesday to expand bilateral cooperation on migration, border security and the economy.
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard hosted U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, both accompanied by a delegation, the day after President López Obrador spoke with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris by telephone.
“The U.S. delegation expressed its interest in working with Mexico to advance in the management of migration from a regional perspective, as well as to implement policies for cooperation for Mexico and the countries of Central America,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Later in the day, Mayorkas and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with President López Obrador and senior Mexican officials at the National Palace.
In both the president’s telephone call and the Tuesday meeting the reopening of the border was discussed, but no firm announcement was made. Ebrard told reporters on Tuesday that the reopening of the U.S. border on August 21 appeared unlikely. “August 21, I would see it as very soon, I don’t think it’s feasible,” he said.
On Twitter, Ebrard said the Tuesday event was a “really great meeting with the U.S. delegation.”
In another Tweet, he struck a cordial tone: “I’m very grateful to Jake Sullivan … Secretary Mayorkas and to all of the U.S. delegation that visited our country today, your commitment and willingness to strengthen the bilateral relationship. A great result!! It was a success.”
But few details were released, beyond the fact that President Joe Biden will be invited to visit Mexico in September.
