Earthquake Reconstruction Efforts / US-Mexico Relations

September 2017 Earthquake Reconstruction Efforts. Government officials presented updates on the reconstruction efforts following the 2017 earthquake. They acknowledged the strategy implemented when President López Obrador took office, as efforts were jointly coordinated. 

Deputy Minister of Territorial and Agrarian Planning Edna Vega highlighted that nearly all of the 71,277 planned actions have been completed, with an investment of over MX$33 billion (US$1.7 billion), benefitting over 34 million people across 10 states. The work has generated nearly 500,000 direct and over 600,000 indirect jobs.

Minister of Public Education Leticia Amaya reported on completing almost all 5,473 actions with a budget of MX$9.5 billion, benefitting 1.4 million people and generating more than 133,000 direct and 66,000 indirect jobs. Only six actions remain in progress, she noted.

Zoé Robledo, Director General, IMSS, discussed general actions and those under the IMSS-Bienestar program. IMSS reported 9 actions, of which 5 are completed, with an investment of MX$2 billion, benefiting over 1 million people. Meanwhile, IMSS-Bienestar executed 163 actions with MX$1 billion, benefitting over 8 million people and generating around 1,300 direct and 750 indirect jobs.

Minister of Culture Alejandra Frausto detailed the completion of most of the 2,717 actions, with an investment of MX$9.7 billion, benefiting nearly 24 million people and generating 72,000 direct and 49,000 indirect jobs. 203 actions remain underway, she said. 

State governors from Oaxaca, Guerrero, Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Chiapas assessed their reconstruction efforts via video call. Each state presented figures on what the National Reconstruction Program contributed to the recovery of housing, as well as historical and cultural buildings.

Migration Policy. López Obrador emphasized that addressing the root causes of migration is essential, as people do not leave their homes by choice but out of necessity to seek a better life. He also mentioned that Mexico has invested more in migration efforts than the United States and criticized non-governmental organizations for creating bureaucratic barriers that prevent funds from reaching those who need them most. 

López Obrador noted a decrease in encounters with individuals in irregular migratory status at the Mexican border with the United States. In December 2023, the average number of encounters was 9,764, but from September 1 to 7, that number dropped to 3,350, representing a 66% reduction.

López Obrador acknowledged US President Joe Biden’s policy that allows people to apply for a temporary visa (CBPOne) when entering the United States. He also noted that Biden is the only president in recent years who has not constructed any new sections of the border wall. To date, US presidents have constructed 1,488km of wall along the 3,200km border between Mexico and the United States.

US-Mexico Relations. López Obrador stated that US-Mexico relations have improved after he announced a diplomatic pause in response to US officials commenting on Mexico's judicial reform, which he viewed as interference in internal affairs. He emphasized that the issue is for Mexicans to decide, as Mexico is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. He noted that there have been no further comments from the United States on this matter since then.

López Obrador emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations with the United States due to geopolitical factors, the shared 3,180km border, and the contributions of 40 million Mexicans living and working there, who send US$65 billion annually to their families in Mexico. 

Violence in Sinaloa and Drug Consumption in the United States. López Obrador accused the United States government of being complicit in the violence currently occurring in Sinaloa, linked to the operation that led to the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. He claimed that Joaquín Guzmán López, son of “El Chapo” Guzmán, kidnapped Zambada and negotiated his delivery with US authorities without informing the Mexican government. 

López Obrador highlighted that the Mexican Attorney General's Office had not received complete information about the situation and expressed concerns over potential agreements between the US Department of Justice and criminal groups in Sinaloa, suggesting these agreements could have contributed to the instability and violence in the region.

He labeled the operation to detain El Mayo as illegal and criticized the violence that accompanied it, pointing out that it resulted in loss of lives. He lamented that while Mexico has cooperated with the United States on drug consumption issues, there seems to be no comprehensive plan to address the root causes of drug use among young people. He also questioned the lack of transparency regarding drug distribution in the United States and the absence of information about prominent drug cartels and leaders in the country.