US’s Kerry in Mexico; supports immigration reform

MEXICO CITY

The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday, expressed his hope that immigration reform currently before the House of Representatives will soon be realized.   Kerry was speaking on the first day of a two-day visit to Mexico at a joint press conference with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade.

U.S. President Barack Obama is committed to reforming the U.S. immigration platform, he said, adding that reforming the legal framework of migration in the U.S. must be done in the best interests of both Mexico and the United States.

“As you know, the U.S. Senate approved a proposal for immigration reform that is already in the House of Representatives,” Kerry said. “This will give relief to many families who have suffered.”

Kerry said both countries must be equally responsible.

There are few countries with which the United States has such close relations as they do with Mexico, he added, and one U.S. objective is to make the region one of the most competitive in the world.

"Our interests are shared interests, we are neighbors and share goals, aspirations, and if we think of our history, we see that our people are closely linked," Kerry said.

Secretary "Meade and I have talked about many things today and remembered that every day, there on our border, is trade of about one billion dollars, representing growth and jobs in our region," said Kerry.

Kerry recalled that in last year's meeting between Presidents Obama and Peña Nieto they discussed strengthening trade ties so that both countries are generating opportunities.

"About 14,000 Mexicans go every year to the United States on student exchange, while 4,000 Americans do the same in Mexico,” Kerry said. “We want to increase the number of U.S. students going to Mexico and Latin America."

Kerry confirmed that he will meet privately with President Enrique Peña Nieto later in the day before a business meeting with Mexican and American entrepreneurs

Kerry is also scheduled to visit the capital's Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square, as well as the murals by painter Diego Rivera, located in the National Palace.

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