Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto praised President Obama for his immigration executive action, calling the sweeping move both “very intelligent” and “an act of justice” for millions of immigrants living in the United States.
Nieto made the comments after a meeting with Obama at the White House on Tuesday that touched on immigration, trade, cooperation on Mexico’s security issues and the new U.S.-Cuba policy.
On immigration, Obama thanked Nieto for helping to convey the message in Mexico that the executive action only provides legal relief for immigrants who have been in the U.S. for many years, and noted that the action would be accompanied by stronger border security.
Nieto pledged to help facilitate Obama’s executive action by making it easier for Mexicans in the United States since 2010 to obtain documents showing they have been here and obtain birth certificates without having to return to Mexico. He also said he would work to ensure that the action only benefits those it is intended to and isn’t used by organized crime groups and human traffickers to encourage the kind of immigration “we don’t want.”
Obama gave Nieto credit for taking actions to help stem the flow of unaccompanied children across the border, and Nieto pledged to keep up the efforts.
When it comes to Cuba, Pena Nieto said Mexico would help collaborate in Obama’s decision to begin normalizing relations and called the move “bold.”
Outside the White House, roughly 50 people protested the Nieto visit to highlight the disappearance of 43 students from Iguala, Mexico, attributed to organized crime. The Nieto government has faced serious criticism that the Mexican authorities have failed to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Obama said that U.S. has followed the “tragic events” related to the missing students and offered support to fight against the “scourge” of violence in Mexico.
Nieto acknowledged that the “clear challenge” for Mexico today is to fight in a “more effective” way against drug traffickers and organized crime and thanked Obama for his continued assistance in trying to stem the violence.
