In addition to the Secretary of State, the delegation includes Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood Randall, who is also scheduled to meet with Mexican President Manuel Lopez Obrador, according to initial plans.
The US government wants to limit the number of migrants heading to the US through Mexico, and is asking the neighboring southern country for help.
President Joe Biden announced the visit last week after a phone conversation with the President of Mexico. In recent weeks, a record number of migrants have entered the United States illegally, forcing authorities to close official border crossings and railway bridges. Border stations had to be partially closed in order to redirect released staff to register arrivals.
Before the start of formal negotiations, officials at the US Department of Homeland Security reported that they would present several proposals to Mexican partners that would reduce pressure on the US border. Among them, they mentioned moving migrants south, keeping them in Mexico, and stricter control of the railways used by migrants. Among US efforts are to direct uncontrolled migration towards legal channels, among other things, by providing visas.
In the United States, which is preparing for the presidential elections, the immigration crisis represented by the increase in illegal border crossings has become a leading political issue, and according to polls, it is a factor that significantly reduces the popularity of President Joe Biden.
Cover image credit: David McNew/Getty Images
