López Obrador applauds Biden Speech/Mexicans Leave Ukraine

López Obrador applauds Biden’s mention on immigration. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador applauded US President Joe Biden’s comments on immigration during his annual State of the Union address. Biden called for a comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and others. “The message from President Biden, especially on the topic of gun control, was adequate, correct and opportune. And also, the new focus that we have on the immigration reform … to regularize our co-nationals and migrants,” López Obrador said, highlighting North America’s economic growth and the importance of having an available labor force. Criminalizing migration is not the solution, López Obrador added.

Ministry of Foreign Relations requests investigation of murders in Phoenix, Arizona. President López Obrador said the Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE) had asked the US to investigate the killing of three Mexicans in Phoenix, Arizona. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard is coordinating the necessary procedures for the investigation with the consulate in Phoenix, López Obrador said, to discard the possibility that they were victims of torture and killed by the US authorities.

On Feb. 22, the police found the bodies of three Indigenous Mexicans. The victims were identified as Herminio Perez, 28, Isauro Martínez, 21, and Abimael Jiménez, 28. They had migrated to the US five months ago to help their families. The families denounced the killings through social media and demanded the consulate’s help to repatriate the bodies and clarify the triple homicide.

Ken Salazar and López Obrador to meet, discuss migration. President López Obrador and US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar will meet in Tapachula, Chiapas, in 10-12 days to discuss matters related to migration. López Obrador said the talks would include cooperation with Central American countries and advances in ensuring people have a job. López Obrador also highlighted his proposal for granting temporary job visas in an effort to stem the migratory flow.  

North America has seen a great migration wave from people mainly coming from Central America and South America over the last couple of years. The Mexican and US governments are expected to take more reactive actions to find a solution to the issue.

Ukraine. López Obrador said that Ukrainians seeking refuge will be welcomed in Mexico. No matter their nationality, López Obrador said everyone affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will be received and protected in Mexico. Moreover, López Obrador said that a group of Mexicans evacuated Ukraine safely and are currently in the Romanian city of Siret, where they were received by Mexican Ambassador to Romania Guillermo Ondorica. The 19 Mexicans were among a group of 24 that left Ukraine by bus, escorted by Mexican Ambassador to Ukraine Olga García. 

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish.