President-elect Joe Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador spoke Saturday in a phone call about collaborating on a “new approach” to migration that “offers alternatives to undertaking the dangerous journey” to the United States.
Why does it matter: The statement by Biden’s transition team on the details of the call is an essential part of the president-elect’s plans to review President Trump’s aggressive border policy.
- Biden has vowed to end Trump’s “Stay in Mexico” policy, which has seen tens of thousands of asylum seekers forced to wait for court meetings in Mexico, but Axios’ Stef Kight finds that it faces complications, including with a possible increase in migrants at the border.
- The transition team said in its statement that Biden reiterated on appeal that it “supports the commitments it has made following the campaign and noted that it would take time and resources to implement these commitments effectively.” .
Details: “The President-elect stressed the need to revive US-Mexico cooperation to ensure safe and orderly migration, to contain COVID-19, to revitalize the North American economies and to secure our common border, “the statement said. transition.
- “The two leaders noted a common desire to address the root causes of migration in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and southern Mexico and to build a future of greater opportunities and security for the region.”
- Biden said he would work closely with Mexico and other regional partners in the first months of his administration “to build the regional and border infrastructure and capacity needed to facilitate a new orderly and humane approach to migration that respects international rules on treatment.” apply for asylum “, the statement added.
What are they saying: “We have reaffirmed our commitment to work together for the well-being of our peoples and nations,” Lopez Obrador said. in a post on Twitter.
- Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who was present during the call, wrote on Twitter the conversation was “cordial”, adding that “there would be extensive bilateral cooperation and a very good relationship between” López Obrado and Biden.
Not worth anything: López Obrador was one of the last world leaders to congratulate Biden on his election victory, as Trump’s legal challenges were played out. He confirmed last Tuesday that he had sent a letter to the president-elect.
Go deeper: An increase in border crossing points means early tests for Biden’s immigration plans