Letter to the Honorable Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State - ENGLISH/ ESPAÑOL: As Secretary Pompeo Visits Mexico, Rubio Urges Him to Raise Key Issues in U.S.-Mexico Relationship

Letter

Dear Secretary Pompeo:

The United States and Mexico are deeply connected not just through geography, but also through cultural and family ties, and the freedoms that we share as democratic nations. As you prepare for your first visit to Mexico as Secretary next week, I urge you to raise several key issues during your meetings with Mexican officials, including modernizing NAFTA, defending human rights, countering drugs and organized crime, and supporting the Venezuelan people.

NAFTA is extremely important to the economy in my home state of Florida. Florida supports Latin America's emergence as a tech hub and benefits from trade-based economic growth. Modernizing NAFTA will benefit all partners involved and strengthen economic development throughout the Western Hemisphere. However, to truly be mutually beneficial, free trade must also be fair trade. Any modernized NAFTA agreement must reflect a commitment by the Mexican government to reduce subsidies and dumping of seasonal and perishable produce, and must provide a mechanism for impacted U.S. producers to redress harm from imports that violate that commitment.

In addition to trade, it is of upmost importance to highlight human rights concerns, including bringing closure to the families of the 43 missing students from the city of Iguala in the state of Guerrero. After four years, the unresolved tragedy represents the lack of accountability for human rights in Mexico. The families of the victims deserve closure and justice and it is my hope that you will raise this case during your visit. Moreover, organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RWB) and Freedom House have noted the recent decline of press freedom in Mexico and we urge you to raise the importance of protecting journalists with your counterparts.

I also encourage you to discuss ways that our two countries collaborate on the most pressing issues in the Western Hemisphere. The United States and Mexico have strong counternarcotics cooperation and only together can we stop the flow of drugs from crossing our border--including, opioids like fentanyl--as well as combating drug traffickers and the violence they perpetrate in Central America, Mexico, and here at home.

Lastly, I urge you to raise the manmade disaster that the Maduro regime has created in Venezuela. The economic and humanitarian crisis faced by the Venezuelan people is straining not just Venezuela's resources, but also those of its neighbors. In order to support the Venezuelan people and maintain stability and security for the Hemisphere, it is critical that our nations work closely together to pressure the Maduro regime to restore Venezuela to its constitutional order and return to the path of democracy.

I look forward to discussing it with you upon your return.

Sincerely,

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