US President Joe Biden discussed immigration, security and economic cooperation with his Mexican counterpart Andres Manuel López Obrador at the White House.
Prior to the meeting, Biden emphasized the need to view immigration as a “common issue”, calling Mexico an “equal partner” for the US.
“His administration is exploring ways for immigrants from Mexico and Central America to legally cross to work in his country,” he said, noting that last year US authorities granted 300,000 Mexicans temporary visas to work in the US.
López Obrador, for his part, called for a “bold agenda” to address immigration issues and urged a labor-scarce United States to allow more skilled Mexican and Central American workers into the country to “support” its labor force.
He pointed out that it was “necessary” to regularize the status of immigrants who “lived and worked for years honestly and contributed to the development of this great nation.”
He acknowledged the likelihood that Republican MPs would object to the move, especially since many Republicans accuse Biden of not protecting the U.S. southern border from illegal crossings.
Source: AFP