U.S., Mexico leaders reaffirm commitment combating fentanyl, arms trafficking

Mexico government officials recently hosted a U.S. delegation to reaffirm the nations’ commitment to address fentanyl and arms trafficking, as well as humanely manage migration.

This month Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador joined senior Mexico government personnel in hosting a U.S. delegation led by Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo and Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Rich Verma.

The effort detailed cooperation the countries have undertaken that include 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.

“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,” both delegations wrote in a joint statement.

Challenges and progress in cooperation regarding regional migration and the commitment to forge a region-wide response was also a point of discussion, officials added.

“The United States and Mexico committed to further expand the availability of legal pathways throughout the region, including to Mexico and the United States,” the joint statement concluded. “The United States and Mexico committed to furthering ongoing work to modernize and advance infrastructure projects that support our border communities and benefits both nations and strengthens our bilateral relationship and security.”