WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and a former Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, today made the following statement regarding U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta Jacobson’s resignation from the Department of State:

“Roberta Jacobson embodies the best of our country, and I wish her all the best going forward.  As our Ambassador to Mexico, Roberta has been a steady hand during an extremely difficult period. With the Trump Administration’s all-out offensive on the U.S.-Mexico relationship, the American people have been fortunate to have Roberta in Mexico City. She understands better than anyone the importance of the ties between our countries and the daily impact this relationship has on the lives of Americans. When Presidents Bush and Calderón established the Mérida Initiative in 2007, Roberta was at the forefront of our joint efforts. And she was equally involved in expanding our security cooperation with Mexico during the Obama Administration. More recently, as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta played a crucial role in deepening our engagement with partners throughout the Americas.

“Unfortunately, Roberta’s departure—the second resignation of a senior State Department official announced this week—is yet another example of the Trump Administration pushing our most accomplished diplomats to the exits. This White House’s continued assault on America’s diplomatic corps is causing damage to our national security that will take many years to repair.”

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