Mexico urges U.S. to regularize migrants’ legal status

Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena emphasized the significant contribution of Mexican migrant workers to the U.S. economy, stating they contribute over $324 billion annually. She urged the U.S. to regularize the legal status of undocumented Mexicans who have worked there for over five years, including half a million young people protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act. Barcena cited the precedent of the 1986 regularization of 3 million Mexicans. With a record influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in December 2023, Mexico also called for a $20 billion annual budget to promote development in Latin America, urging the U.S. to lift sanctions on Venezuela and trade embargo against Cuba. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has proposed these measures to U.S. President Joe Biden. Mexico, dealing with all phases of the immigration cycle, has 37.3 million citizens in the U.S., with 5.3 million undocumented, according to the Mexican government.

Source – CGTN