US, Mexico agree to step up efforts to tackle fentanyl trafficking, migration

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - Mexican and US authorities held a high-level security dialogue on Thursday aimed at improving border security which focused on the flow of migrants and fentanyl trafficking.

Meeting in Mexico City, Mexican Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez and Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena welcomed the US delegation headed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.

-Migration

Witnessing a record number of migrant crossings and an inability to discourage migration flows through Mexico to the US, the bilateral commission pointed to the need to renew commitments to stop the influx of irregular asylum seekers into the United States.

At a press conference, the US officials disclosed joint efforts to tackle migration, pairing border security reinforcement in Mexico with the US pushing for stricter policies regarding deportation and a commitment to open more legal pathways for orderly migration.

"We are a nation of immigrants and laws," said Blinken.

According to Blinken, repatriation is key in US immigration policy to address the surge in migrant crossings. During the press briefing, he cited a recent agreement between Venezuela and the US that will result in the resumption of direct repatriations of Venezuelan nationals who cross the US border unlawfully.

The anti-immigration policy centers on Venezuelans who had arrived in the US after July 31 and will take effect in the coming days.

US authorities have reported a record number of Venezuelans at their southern border, with 50,000 Venezuelans reportedly entering the US in September.

In addition, Mexico will gather officials and representatives from countries in Latin America reporting the largest migration flows. According to Barcena, the Mexican government intends to bring together officials from 11 Latin American countries most affected by migration to ensure effective action against the causes of migratory transit.

Addressing a recent announcement by the US government of the construction of a 20-mile stretch of wall along the US-Mexican border, Mayorkas stressed that Congress had approved the project during former President Donald Trump's administration, rendering President Joe Biden and the Democratic party incapable of halting its funding.

While Barcena expressed support for President Biden, praising his leadership for halting the wall’s construction during his administration, she condemned the recently approved project.

"Of course, we in the Mexican government are absolutely reluctant and against walls," she said. "We are not in favor of it at all. We believe in bridges and not walls."

-Fentanyl

For the US, controlling the trafficking of fentanyl precursors and products from Mexico has become a serious matter. Fentanyl consumption has become the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45, with the main culprits behind the crisis being Chinese companies and Mexican drug cartels.

According to Garland, the US Justice Department announced charges against eight companies in China and 12 of their executives for crimes related to the production, distribution and importation of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, methamphetamine and its precursor chemicals.

Additionally, Garland shared information on advances in the crackdown against the Sinaloa Cartel, which he called the most prolific organization in the production and trafficking of fentanyl worldwide, lauding the apprehension and extradition of 12 leaders of the Mexican drug organization.

Although the Mexican delegation contended that Mexico is not a fentanyl-producing country, serving only as a transit point for precursor chemicals, the US delegation pointed out that precursor chemicals arrive in Mexico to be processed into fentanyl products.

However, Rodriguez maintained that fentanyl comes from other countries into Mexico, saying that Mexico does not have laboratories equipped to produce the synthetic opioids. ​​​​​​​

According to Rodriguez, during President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's administration, the armed forces have confiscated 1,435.6 tons of fentanyl precursor chemicals and 470 tons of methamphetamines along with 184 tons of cocaine and 7.6 tons of fentanyl.