WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, met with Mexico’s new Ambassador to the United States Gerónimo Gutiérrez yesterday. Ranking Member Engel offered this comment on their meeting:

“It was my pleasure to welcome Ambassador Gutiérrez to Capitol Hill. In our meeting, I expressed to the Ambassador that Congress continues to support the strong strategic partnership between the United States and Mexico, regardless of the Trump Administration's words and actions. I worked closely with Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico relationship, and I'm deeply troubled to see it move in the wrong direction.  As a country of immigrants, we should reject divisive and unnecessary rhetoric about building a wall on our Southern border and the absurdity of making Mexico pay for it. I told the Ambassador that I'm focused on building bridges—not walls—and that we in Congress should continue to reaffirm this strong partnership wherever and whenever we can.”

In February, Ranking Member Engel along with Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and 47 other colleagues introduced a House resolution reaffirming the importance of the U.S.-Mexico relationship. 

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

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