Washington, DC - On July 30, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen met with Mexican Secretary of Governance Alfonso Navarrete Prida to reaffirm the importance of a strong, coordinated approach to border security that includes joint actions and robust information sharing. The two discussed ways the United States and Mexico can engage regional governments, international organizations, and the private sector to develop a strategic, long-term approach to regional migration control. Secretary Nielsen stressed the need to take bold steps to provide protection to refugees and asylum seekers and to jointly expand enforcement activities for migrants who do not qualify for protection.

The two agreed there are major challenges in the region and made specific commitments to take immediate action to address them. Both Secretaries noted the importance of collaborating to reduce weapons trafficking, to address human smuggling and trafficking, and to explore options to improve the ability to provide access to labor markets. Recognizing the importance of border security and migration control to both countries, both Nielsen and Navarrete committed to continued engagement with Central American governments to reduce the root causes of migration.

This meeting was part of Secretary Nielsen’s ongoing discussions with international partners on border security and migration control. Both Secretaries also agreed to work together on an action-oriented summit in the United States in September focused on addressing regional migration, security, and prosperity issues.