Official website of the Department of Homeland Security
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement regarding today’s announcement by Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero about a recent enforcement operation in Mexicali, Baja California that resulted in the arrest of seven individuals for their alleged participation in a human smuggling Transnational Criminal Organization
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas visited Mexico during his first international trip as Secretary — a reflection of the Department of Homeland Security’s commitment to a close and deep partnership with the Government of Mexico.
In order to limit the further spread of coronavirus, the U.S. has reached agreements with both Canada and Mexico to limit all non-essential travel across borders. Working closely and collaboratively, the Department of Homeland Security is part of a North American approach to stop the spread of the virus.
The Department of Homeland Security will ensure that the measures taken at our borders will protect America from all threats, including threats against the health and safety of our citizens. Based on the success of the existing restrictions and the emergence of additional global COVID-19 hotspots, the Department will continue to limit non-essential travel at our land ports of entry with Canada and Mexico.
“In close collaboration, the US, Mexico, and Canada have each agreed to extend restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared borders for 30 additional days. As President Trump stated last week, border control, travel restrictions and other limitations remain critical to slowing the spread and allowing the phased opening of the country.”
Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf issued the following statement regarding the migrant caravan at the Guatemala-Mexico border.
The Department of Homeland Security will begin processing migrants for return to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) at the Nogales Port of Entry south of Tucson, Arizona. This brings the total number of ports of entry where MPP returns will be made to seven. Any migrants making illegal or inadmissible entry at the Southwest Border, regardless of location of entry, may be returned to Mexico through one of these locations to await their immigration court proceedings. Previously, migrants apprehended in the Tucson Sector were returned to Mexico through El Paso for processing under MPP. The expansion to the Nogales Port of Entry reflects the continued commitment by both the United States and Mexico to a program that has proven effective at reducing human smuggling across the Southwest Border.
As of October 28, the Department of Homeland Security has begun processing migrants for return to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, in Eagle Pass, Texas.
On July 30, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen met with Mexican Secretary of Governance Alfonso Navarrete Prida to reaffirm the importance of a strong, coordinated approach to border security that includes joint actions and robust information sharing.
As part of the ongoing dialogue between both governments over the last two days, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State (DOS), the Ministry of Interior (SEGOB), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) discussed regional immigration trends, including the significant increase in the number of asylum claims that both countries have experienced recently; each country’s migration-related legal and policy frameworks; and progress on joint initiatives which support prosperity and security with Central America, following up from the meeting co-convened by the United States and Mexico in June of 2017.
