The Mexican government affirmed this Wednesday that it has only received 1.768 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States since that country announced the new immigration restrictions for the expulsion of citizens of Venezuela arriving by land.
During a visit by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to Tamaulipas, a state bordering Texas (USA), the Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard assured that on the first day of the measure the country received 744 Venezuelans, a figure that has dropped to 179, reported Efe.
"As you can see, this is a decreasing number; this is across the entire (northern) border; they're getting fewer every day. Now, along the southern border, we're receiving many more because they're asking for refuge, and we're granting it to them," the Secretary of Foreign Affairs said.
The foreign minister reiterated his support for last week's announcement by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS, in English), which contemplates 24.000 humanitarian permits from the United States for Venezuelans arriving by air, although it will expel to Mexico those who arrive through the land border.
"What would I assume? That anyone who knows about this will try to process their application. Why would you go all that way? You put yourself at risk, you have to cross many countries, you arrive in the United States, and they send you back," he commented.
Ebrard claimed that the Title 42, the measure implemented by the Donald Trump administration (2017-2021) for the expulsion of Venezuelans "is not an agreement with Mexico, it is a measure of the United States."
López Obrador spoke with Biden
President López Obrador stated that he addressed the immigration issue in his phone call on Tuesday with his US counterpart, Joe Biden.
"We celebrate the decision to issue temporary visas to our Venezuelan brothers and sisters, as well as the proposal to do the same for our Central American brothers and sisters, and the continuation of the plan to support Central American countries," he reported.
The Mexican president insisted that the United States "invest in development plans" in Central America to mitigate migration because "Mexico is doing it."
Biden confirmed visit to Mexico
López Obrador assured that Biden confirmed his next visit to Mexico for the Summit of Líderit is from North America, which will also be attended by the first lady of the United States, Jill Biden; in addition to the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and his wife, Sophie Trudeau.
"All in an atmosphere of great respect and affection, and he confirmed that he will visit Mexico, that we will hold the North American Summit in Mexico. The date and time have not been set," he mentioned.
