- Well, I'd like to say, first of all, thank you
for being here today and making this annual,
this conference on prosperity and security
in central America a great, great success.
(translator speaking Spanish)
I want to thank Admiral Tidd and his entire South Com staff
for the wonderful hospitality.
(translator speaking Spanish)
And I want to thank my great friends from Mexico,
Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador.
(translator speaking Spanish)
We deeply appreciate your friendship and partnership.
(translator speaking Spanish)
I also wanted to thank all the other countries
that were represented here in this conference.
(translator speaking Spanish)
The great countries of Canada, Spain, Costa Rica,
Panama, Colombia.
(translator speaking Spanish)
The European Union.
(translator speaking Spanish)
And others.
- [Translator] Sorry?
- And others.
(translator speaking Spanish)
We've had some tremendously important discussions
on prosperity and security these last two days.
(translator speaking Spanish)
We talked about a sustained effort,
(translator speaking Spanish)
an effort against corruption, drug trafficking,
human smuggling.
(translator speaking Spanish)
In gangs and violence.
(translator speaking Spanish)
Countries involved have made many commitments to partner.
(translator speaking Spanish)
These agreements will go a long way towards
improving conditions in our neighborhood.
(translator speaking Spanish)
But this is just the beginning, I hope,
of a series of partnering conferences
to continue to get at the problems that we face.
(translator speaking Spanish)
Now I would like to introduce my counterpart.
(translator speaking Spanish)
My friend.
(translator speaking Spanish)
Secretary Osorio Chong from Mexico.
(translator speaking Spanish)
(speaking Spanish)
- In the last few days,
representatives of the five nations of are Central America
and North America we have met in a space to think
about the challenges and opportunities
and the issues of relevance
and the transcendental issues that our societies share,
and that is prosperity and security.
Through dialogue, each country has presented
the main challenges that they go through.
All the efforts made and all the areas
where collaboration can be seen.
Therefore, we have taken stock of this pace
to reaffirm what unites us
and what divides us as a region.
We have asked each other to make our best
for the well-being of our citizens.
We have decided to act promptly
and efficiently to reach the outcomes that we have
set forth to achieve and that are persistent
in the long term.
But above all, we should do it in a comprehensive fashion,
from a regional perspective, and Mexico is fully convinced
that that is the way to go
because all the problems that we face are common.
And it's paramount that we generate joint solutions
because the threats to security of the partnered nations
that they face are threats to the security of each
of our own countries.
And it is upon this vision that we have gathered here
to set dialogue, a permanent dialogue
that will result in a broad collaboration between sister
nations of Central America.
This is a clear sign of the high level task forces
represented here.
This is how our countries have worked together
with joint strategies that our institutions
are implementing through coordinated efforts
to strengthen security and stability in our region.
In this conference, the different delegations
we have defined our priorities.
We have decided to reinforce different actions.
We have decided to share responsibility vis-a-vis
the issues that we face, like violence, drug dealing,
and human trafficking.
Therefore, Mexico and the United States,
we have made a commitment to join efforts and to walk along
the nations of Central America to strengthen and build
our capacity as the governments that we have gathered here.
And the agreements that we have made here
have been made because of their importance.
And we're working towards the same goal.
Mexico is engaged in this effort.
We're going to walk along all of you
as part of a common agenda that we share.
And that is to build a future based upon shared prosperity.
And for that, we are gathered here to give the first step.
And it is upon that dialogue that we share
a bigger challenge.
And that is to move from agreements to concrete actions
because only through actions it will be possible
to move from an understanding to a true regional alliance
to favor security and prosperity.
A partnership that is based every single moment
in full respect to every other parties
that are part of this partnership.
And a partnership where there are no small or large nations.
That none of our interests are more important
than other nations' interests.
Thank you.
- [Woman] So we're gonna take a few questions.
(speaking Spanish)
The first question, could you please raise your hand, AP.
- Hi.
This is for Secretary Kelly.
Based on your discussions today,
what is your current thinking on the appropriateness
of extending TPS next year
for the Central American countries?
And then can you say what did you hear
from the Central American officials today on that subject?
- The conference body did not include any discussion on TPS.
Although it certainly would be a factor
in what we're trying to do, what we're all trying
to do in the region.
(translator speaking Spanish)
I'm sorry.
(translator speaking Spanish)
But I did have offline bilateral discussion
with all of the three countries
in the northern tier about TPS.
(translator speaking Spanish)
And over time, we're work together on some resolution.
(translator speaking Spanish)
- [Woman] Second question for Naughty Max.
(speaking Spanish)
- Thank you very much.
This is a question for Secretary Chong.
I would like to know what are the expectations
for Mexico after this meeting?
And the second question, I would like to know
if the U.S. government has shared
with the Mexican government their concerns
about potential links of drug cartel activities
linked to terrorists?
(speaking Spanish)
In terms of your first question,
our next steps are to give follow-up
to the conclusions drawn from this conference
and to the agreements each of the task forces set up
for this effort will build strong links in the region
towards prosperity and security.
(speaking Spanish)
Yesterday afternoon, I had a conversation
with Secretary Kelly when we talked about the statement
made by Secretary Tillerson.
And he explained to me that the dividends
that come from the sales of drugs
in different countries and different regions of the world
are the dividends that are linked to terrorist groups.
But there is no link at all between
those activities and Mexico.
That was what we discussed in our yesterday's conversation.
- [Woman] Okay, next question.
(speaking Spanish)
(man speaking Spanish)
- [Translator] The U.S. approved $150 million
for the Alliance for Prosperity.
Based on the outcomes of this,
we understood that these funds might have been reduced
or would be reduced.
As a result of this conference,
talking to the countries in the Northern Triangle,
do you think that this is gonna change fiscally
in the year to come?
- I'd say first that we're still going,
the U.S. is still going through its budgetary process.
So I wouldn't wanna try and make a prediction.
And I don't mean to avoid the question.
It's just my sense is there is still great support.
But again we're going through our budgetary system.
(translator speaking Spanish)
That said, and I don't mean to speak
for the three countries,
but first of all, the Alliance for Prosperity
was what they did.
They put this together.
And they started this with their own money
(translator speaking Spanish)
And then the United States Congress sees any money
that would be sent to the countries through the Alliance
for Prosperity as not being aid,
but being an investment.
(translator speaking Spanish)
And on the topic of investment,
yesterday's entire day was spent
on this very topic of investment.
And the number of very, very high-end representatives
of large corporations were there
and listened to the countries and the countries
listened to them about how to attract investment,
what do they need in terms of investment,
and what changes may be needed in order for
to be a more or even better investment friendly environment.
(translator speaking Spanish)
- [Woman] Next question.
(speaking Spanish)
- Secretary Kelly is taking care of the MS-13,
a very rapid clip.
(speaking Spanish)
- [Translator] The first question is,
throughout throughout this conference,
did you discover in speaking with the delegations
from other countries that you mentioned
the possibility of the effects of deporting people
or stop deporting people to improve
the security situation or how this affects
the security situation in this country.
The second question was,
if you discussed with El Salvador
the comments about deportation
that President Trump made
in regards to the situation in El Salvador.
- On the topic of removals of individuals
that are in the United States illegally,
the collaboration between the United States
and the three countries, very, very close.
We have a very smooth operation
in terms of how we do that.
Of course, the removals are done
with great care and with respect for the individuals
that are being removed.
We certainly have a collaboration between the United States
and the three countries as to who's coming back,
who they are.
If they're criminals or not.
So all of this I think works very well.
And again, the countries are very, very cooperative
in this regard.
And the second question?
- [Translator] Yeah, I didn't get it much either, sir.
I'm gonna go ahead and respond to the first question.
And then I'm gonna ask you to restate.
(translator speaking Spanish)
(woman speaking Spanish)
- Again, I'm not so sure I understand the question.
But I'll just say that coordination is made
with every country that the United States removes
their citizens to,
not just these three countries, every country.
(translator speaking Spanish)
If they are in fact criminals,
then they've already finished their
penalty in the United States before they're removed.
(translator speaking Spanish)
And if they're identified as gang members,
but perhaps gang members that have not yet
committed serious crimes in the United States,
(translator speaking Spanish)
we identify those individuals to the country
that's receiving them as gang members
and what their backgrounds are relative
to the United States.
(translator speaking Spanish)
And by the way, all of the countries,
the three countries of the Northern Triangle,
are very, very cooperative with the United States.
(translator speaking Spanish)
That if citizens of these three countries
commit crimes in the United States
and then flee south to avoid prosecution,
(translator speaking Spanish)
the countries within the laws, the local laws,
will oftentimes extradite them back to the
United States for justice.
(translator speaking Spanish)
- [Woman] One more question.
CNN.
- To Secretary Kelly.
DHS made the formal move to resend DAPA last night.
But many of the criticisms including that President Trump
have made about DAPA, it's an executive amnesty,
it's not in line with his policies,
can also be applied to DACA,
which you once again reaffirmed the Trump
administration will continue.
So my question is, if the administration
is against DAPA, why are we continuing with DACA?
And relatedly, what assurances do those recipients have
that the rug won't be pulled out from under them tomorrow?
And then I have a question for Secretary Chong as well,
but if you want to translate that.
(translator speaking Spanish)
- Well, as you know, two separate issues.
One applies to students.
And one applies to parents.
(translator speaking Spanish)
Neither one of them went through the normal
law-making system that we have turned them
into, again, law.
(translator speaking Spanish)
- [Translator] What was that last part, sir?
- That they weren't law.
They were done by memo.
(translator speaking Spanish)
So in the case of DAPA,
the one that applies to parents,
(translator speaking Spanish)
that was immediately enjoined by the courts.
(translator speaking Spanish)
And it languished in limbo for now
I think two or three years.
(translator speaking Spanish)
So my action yesterday was just to do
a little house cleaning.
And I just canceled the memo.
(translator speaking Spanish)
DACA, that applies to students.
(translator speaking Spanish)
Has not been changed.
(translator speaking Spanish)
Well,
(translator speaking Spanish)
one was enjoined by the courts, and the other one wasn't.
So just house cleaning on the part of DACA.
(translator speaking Spanish)
Correction, DAPA, thanks.
- And for Secretary Chong,
the immigration policies of the United States
certainly impact Mexico.
And we've already seen some of those impacts in Mexico.
So my question is, are you concerned about
the ways that some of the policies
of the Trump administration could affect Mexico?
And how are you dealing with those?
(translator speaking Spanish)
(speaking Spanish)
- [Translator] Since the meeting that we had in Mexico City,
we have talked, we have set a dialogue
about the announcements made by the U.S. government.
Since that dialogue, we have seen that the results
announced have not made the gap between the United States
and Mexico bigger.
On the contrary, we have grown closer.
When deportations happen, when Mexicans are sent
back to our country, this happens
in the most efficient fashion.
And I have to be very clear in terms
of how it happens.
Before Mexicans are deported to Mexico,
there's an agreement, there is dialogue about the process.
We know the names, the place, and the time
when people are going to be sent back.
And none of the actions announced have affected Mexicans
in any way.
We have not seen any human rights violations.
And what Secretary Kelly has agreed,
and that's what we've seen in practice.
- [Woman] One last question for effe.
(speaking Spanish)
- [Translator] Is there a possibility that U.S. and Mexico
have an agreement to train the Central American forces
in regards to fighting crime, and what not.
And also, similar to the one that Mexico
and the United States share now.
And also, if this is the case,
how would you deal with corruption denunciations
that there are against the military in Mexico?
(speaking Spanish)
- [Translator] There are no additional agreements
from what we already have.
We've talked about sharing information,
but not about joint training.
(speaking Spanish)
And I bluntly reject any generalization
that there's corruption in our armed forces.
(speaking Spanish)
These are prestigious institutions
that the Mexican people have in high regard.
(speaking Spanish)
And where there have been violations to the law,
those actions have been prosecuted
in the army jurisdiction.
- [Woman] Thank you everyone for coming.
Please stay seated until the delegation leaves the room.
(speaking Spanish)
- Thanks, everyone.