Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Visit to Mexico

Press Release

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Thomas Winkowski, and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin today traveled to Mexico City where they met with President Enrique Peña Nieto and members of his cabinet to discuss bi-national efforts to facilitate legitimate trade and travel, enhance information sharing and continue efforts to ensure a safer, more secure and more resilient global supply chain.

"The U.S.-Mexican border is now more secure than ever, in part because of the concept of co-management and co-responsibility," said Secretary Napolitano. "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stands ready to share our experience and work together to enhance regional security by protecting vulnerable migrants, deterring and detecting illegal immigration, and facilitating lawful trade and travel."

While in Mexico City, Secretary Napolitano met with President Peña Nieto and members of his cabinet, including Secretary of the Interior Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, Secretary of Defense General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, Secretary of the Navy Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberon Sanz , Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam and Foreign Secretary José Antonio Meade Kuribreña, to discuss the ongoing partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico to ensure a safe and secure border region, which is critical to both nations' economic competitiveness and national security.

In April 2013, Secretary Osorio Chong met with Secretary Napolitano in Washington, D.C. where they signed a Declaration of Principles Regarding Coordinated Operations to enhance law enforcement cooperation along the border between the U.S. Border Patrol and Mexico's Federal Police. This unprecedented cooperation highlights The U.S. Government's and the Government of Mexico's commitment to co-responsibility for security in the border region and co-management of migration.

Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano, Acting Commissioner Winkowski, and Assistant Secretary Bersin met with Mexican Secretary of the Interior Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong and local law enforcement officials in Matamoros, Mexico to discuss border security operations and the ongoing partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico to ensure a safe and secure border region.

Source