WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today met with Mexico’s recently arrived Ambassador to the United States Carlos Sada.

“It was my pleasure to meet with Mexico’s new Ambassador to the United States.  Mexico is a critical friend and partner, and it’s important that we stay in regular contact for the benefit of our countries and people,” said Rep. Engel. “At a time when hateful and divisive rhetoric about immigrants is rearing its ugly head in our political landscape, we should be focusing on building bridges instead of walls.”

Ranking Member Engel reaffirmed the importance of a strong U.S.-Mexico relationship, and encouraged closer security and economic cooperation. He discussed the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s disturbing rhetoric about Mexican-Americans living in the United States, and asked the Ambassador how we can best work together to demonstrate to the Mexican people that this language does not represent the views of most Americans.

Ranking Member Engel also advocated a stronger U.S. role in combating firearms trafficking across the border. In January 2016, he commissioned a Government Accountability Office report on this topic, which found a disturbing new pattern in which firearm parts are transported across the border and subsequently assembled to create military-grade weapons. Ranking Member Engel reaffirmed that we must do more to combat this growing problem, and reaffirmed the United States’ readiness to work on with Mexico to meet this challenge.                                                            

Additionally, Ranking Member Engel underscored the good work of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in investigating the tragic case of the 43 missing students from Iguala, Mexico and the importance of a follow-up mechanism to implement their recommendations.                                        

Lastly, Ranking Member Engel congratulated the Mexican government on the recapture of drug kingpin Chapo Guzman and inquired about remaining legal hurdles for his extradition to the United States.

For a high-resolution photograph, please contact the Foreign Affairs Committee Democratic Press Office.     

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