Mexico asks the United States Government to freeze arms trafficking

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(CNN Spanish) - Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, offered on the morning of Thursday a balance of the meeting held on Wednesday between representatives of the United States Government and the Government of Mexico to present and evaluate results achieved as part of the immigration agreement between both countries.

Ebrard explained that he offered data to the US delegation that proves that Mexico's strategy is working. From June to date, said the chancellor, the migratory flow was reduced by 58.7% and intelligence services have been improved. As part of Mexico's plan, Ebrard said that in eight months they will be able to evaluate the creation of jobs in other countries of Central America, which would also contribute to the reduction in the number of people who intend to migrate to the United States.

However, for the Foreign Minister of Mexico, a relevant point of the meeting was to emphasize to the US Government that "the control of arms trafficking at the border has the same priority range as for them has the issue of migration."

"70% of the weapons used in crimes come from the United States and the goal is nothing more to reduce it, but to freeze it and for that we need the participation of the US authorities," said Ebrard.

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It was agreed, as reported by the Mexican Foreign Minister, that a monthly report of the crimes committed with firearms from the United States will be made. Ebrard said that the United States Government has already determined the agencies that will participate in these operations and that Mexico will require "that the United States take actions in reciprocity to the actions on migration issues that Mexico is taking."

Ebrard also made public the position of the Government of Mexico on the decision taken by the United States Supreme Court on Wednesday, which clears the way for the Trump administration's rule that dramatically limits the ability of Central American migrants to apply for asylum. The rule, of the Departments of Justice and National Security, would prohibit migrants who have resided or traveled through third countries requesting asylum in the US.

"It is a matter of the United States, but of course we do not agree," Ebrard said and added that Mexican authorities will hold meetings this week to assess the impact that the decision of the United States court will have on the country. In addition, Ebrard said they informed the United States Government, in writing, that Mexico will not accept to be a safe third country for asylum seekers.

Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, during a press conference. (Credit: Mario Tama / Getty Images)

The Mexican Foreign Minister said that although there is a good disposition, a meeting between President Trump and López Obrador is not scheduled at the moment. However, López Obrador reiterated that he spoke with Trump on Wednesday was on good terms and stressed that "relations are good, there are no differences."

During the press conference, representatives of the Government of Mexico assured that they have received from the United States 330 million dollars as part of that country's commitment to invest 2,000 million dollars for projects that promote job creation and thus mitigate migration. Ebrard said that more meetings will be held with delegations from the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, to take stock of the achievements made so far.

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“We will have a conversation with the elected president of Guatemala in September and it will be a very relevant dialogue for us,” said Ebrard.

López Obrador, for his part, took the opportunity to comment, after his conversation with Trump, that there are very favorable conditions for the US Congress to approve the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.

Migration Traffic in weapons