Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray Caso on Immigration

LUIS VIDEGARAY: Well, our position on immigration has always been very clear, very consistent. We think that the most important policy element should be treating migrants as human beings, regardless of their legal condition, they have human rights and a dignity that has to be taken care of. Of course, we try to have a legal orderly migration process, in a region where migration flows have changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Mexico used to be a country of origin of migrants, now it’s more of a transit country and it’s a challenge for other countries. Our approach has always been the key element to dealing with immigration has got to be development. And we need the U.S. and we need Mexico to invest more in development, creating job opportunities, fostering security and the wellbeing of Central America, particularly the northern triangle, Guatemala, Honduran and El Salvador. So, yes, we understand that political dynamics in the U.S. We don’t expect a significant change in President Trump’s priorities and policies. But our approach, I think, remains consistent. We’ve got to face this issue as a humanitarian challenge. The caravans are a result of such a humanitarian challenge and we need to first and foremost work together with the U.S. in investigating development of Central America.

AMANPOUR: So, I want to pick up on that, because we understand that you’ve been in discussions with the United States precisely on that, and have you got to any agreement? Will there be a sort of a joint development plan? And I know that you want to take into consideration their issues of security and the border, et cetera.

VIDEGARAY: We’ve been working on development efforts with the U.S. since the beginning of the Trump administration. We just had, last month, a summit with the three presidents of Central America, it was Vice President Pence, it was — Mike Pompeo was there. And it’s very clear that we all understand that without investing in development, this is some — this is a problem that will remain. It is, of course, enforcement of the law in a humane and proper way, it’s part of the solution. But the core is the development challenge. So, we have been working with the administration, with the Trump administration since the beginning towards that and I look forward to the new Mexican administration of President-Elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to continue that strongly.