Press Release Num. 019
Washington, D.C., December 8th, 2021.
Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma carries out a working visit to Laredo, Texas
The Embassy of Mexico in the United States informs that Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán made a working visit to the city of Laredo, Texas, on December 6 and 7, 2021. The visit was carried out in coordination with the Ambassador of the United States to Mexico, Ken Salazar, becoming the first time that current ambassadors from both countries visit jointly and simultaneously that point of the border to discuss issues of binational interest.
During this visit, Ambassador Moctezuma met with local authorities, congressmen, businessmen, and members of the Mexican community in the context of a series of cooperation mechanisms for economic promotion and the strengthening of border infrastructure, as well as health collaboration, and support for immigrant populations.
On his first day of activities, Ambassador Moctezuma visited the facilities of the Consulate General of Mexico in Laredo, led by Consul General Juan Carlos Mendoza Sánchez, where he was able to witness the work that is being undertaken for the benefit of the Mexican community residing in that region. Especially, actions directed to promoting vaccination against COVID-19 among our migrant communities.
Subsequently, the Ambassador had the opportunity to observe, through a tour of the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, the vaccination process of a group of people from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas –a group mainly comprised of teachers– as part of the Cross-Border Vaccination Program coordinated by the Consulate General of Mexico in Laredo along with key allies.
In meetings with Ambassador Ken Salazar, political and business leaders, a reflecting exercise was carried out on border infrastructure initiatives that promise to positively impact not only local economies, but also the North American region, and that could in turn strengthen the supply chains and reinvigorate trade. In this sense, ideas such as a binational border park, with the potential to benefit communities in the Two Laredos were of special relevance.
During these meetings, the participation of relevant figures stood out, such as Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28); the Mayor of Laredo, Texas, Pete Saenz; the Mayor of San Antonio, Ron Nirenberg; the Consul General of Mexico in Laredo, Juan Carlos Mendoza Sánchez; the Consul General of Mexico in San Antonio, Ruben Minutti; the Consul General of the United States in Nuevo Laredo, Deanna Kim; and the Mayor of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Carmen Lilia Canturosas; among other prominent businessmen, authorities and members of chambers of commerce.
Ambassador Moctezuma and Ambassador Salazar also led a press conference to discuss the progress to strengthen border infrastructure within the framework of the agreements reached at the recent North American Leaders’ Summit and the High-Level Economic Dialogue, which have strengthened the dialogue and rapprochement between the two governments.
Ambassador Moctezuma also visited the Border Patrol Processing Center where he held a meeting with Matthew Hudak, head of the Laredo sector, to review cooperation and assistance mechanisms for immigrants.
In the last segment of his visit, Ambassador Moctezuma had the opportunity to visit key points in the management of ports of entry, such as the Customs in Nuevo Laredo and the Laredo railway bridge facilities, where he was able to verify the joint efforts made to streamline and secure the flows of goods and people through an increasingly dynamic and modern infrastructure.
To conclude his visit, the Ambassador held a meeting with the Mayor of Laredo, Texas, Pete Sáenz, with whom he spoke about the opportunities to continue promoting cross-border cooperation in favor of a growing binational community on both sides of the border.
With this visit, Ambassador Moctezuma reaffirms his commitment to come closer to the Mexican communities residing throughout the United States and to learn first-hand about the dynamics and problems they face in each region, such as in the border region case.
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