US-Mexico immigration coordination producing results, says official

A State Department spokeswoman on Saturday praised the progress made after a crackdown on illegal immigration during a high-level US State Department meeting with Mexican authorities on Friday.

A State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stated in a statement that the department’s assault on migrant smuggling networks, rail routes, and bus routes had yielded results.

“Our coordinated efforts with Mexico are demonstrating positive results at our shared border,” the statement said.

On Friday, Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met at the US Department of State in Washington. High ranking officials from additional government departments that coordinate immigration matters were also there.

Additionally, the US pledged to assist Guatemala, the country from where some migrants originate.

“The United States stands ready to support the people of Guatemala and their new government on a wide range of issues including economic development and hemispheric migration management,” the statement said.

Republicans in the US Congress have blocked emergency funding for Ukraine in an effort to push new security policies along the US-Mexico border. They blame Biden’s policies for an influx of immigrants into the United States.

US President Joe Biden signaled on Friday that he is hopeful a deal over the US-Mexico border could be worked out next week – at least in the Senate.