US and Mexico vow action on fentanyl, but lack specifics.

Mexican President ⁢and⁤ Biden ‌Administration Officials Discuss Border⁣ Security

Mexican President⁣ Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ⁣and senior members of his government recently hosted a⁤ group of Biden administration officials to address the pressing issues of fentanyl trafficking, firearms smuggling, and ‌immigration ⁢across the border.

The U.S. delegation, led by Homeland Security Adviser​ Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, included Deputy ⁤Attorney General Lisa Monaco, acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, and ⁤Deputy ⁤Secretary of ⁣State for⁢ Management and Resources Rich Verma. In a joint statement released by⁣ both governments, they expressed their commitment to ongoing discussions and cooperation on these matters.

Combating Drug Trafficking and Promoting Public Health

“The leaders discussed ⁣our commitment to continuing joint efforts under the U.S.-Mexico ‍Bicentennial Framework for ⁣Security, Public Health, ‍and Safe ​Communities to combat ‌drug traffickers, disrupt the supply of the chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl, prevent trafficking of these deadly narcotics across⁣ our ‍shared border, and promote public⁤ health services to reduce harm and demand and increase treatment services,” ​the statement reads.

“Our countries also ⁤recognize that discovering, disrupting, and dismantling firearms trafficking networks is ⁤critical to our shared efforts to combat illicit fentanyl, and we remain committed ​to addressing firearms​ trafficking that contributes to violence and destruction on both sides of our shared border.”

Cooperation on Regional Migration

“The leaders also discussed the challenges and⁢ progress in cooperation regarding regional migration and committed to continue to forge a region-wide response, guided by the principles in‍ the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection,” it continued.

“To that end, the United States and Mexico committed to further​ expand the availability of legal pathways throughout the region, including to Mexico ‍and the United States. Leaders ⁢also discussed expanding‍ our⁤ joint development⁣ work in Central​ America, and maintaining strong consequences for irregular entry at our​ shared ⁣border.”

Both countries also emphasized their commitment to modernizing and advancing infrastructure projects that benefit ‍border communities and strengthen ‌the bilateral relationship and ‍security.

President Joe Biden previously met with Lopez Obrador to address the border situation. ⁣Since then, ‌illegal border crossings have decreased to their lowest point since the pandemic⁤ began.

Lopez Obrador has expressed his concerns about the ‍security directives implemented‍ by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, urging Texas voters to‍ take action. The Biden administration has criticized these measures as ‌”inhumane” and “indecent.”

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