President Barack Obama promised Tuesday the United States will be Mexico's steady partner as it fights the scourge of drug related violence.
The pledge came in talks with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and as both leaders are at low points in their respective presidencies.
Democrat Obama spoke as Republicans bent on blocking his agenda in his final two years in power were sworn in to take over the House of Representatives and the Senate.
And Pena Nieto is under intense pressure over the latest tragedy tormenting drug-plagued Mexico: the disappearance and likely massacre of 43 college students in September in the southern Mexican town of Iguala.
That case has triggered a major scandal for Pena Nieto, seen as doing too little too late to find the students, who were attending a teachers college. In power since 2012 on a pledge to curb drug-related violence, his approval rating has plummeted.
The two presidents spoke for about an hour, touching on the case of the students and bilateral security issues as well as immigration and US plans to restore full diplomatic ties with Cuba.
Speaking later to reporters Obama called the case of the students "tragic", and said Washington supported measures taken by Pena Nieto as a result of the students' disappearance.
"Our commitment is to be a friend and supporter of Mexico in its efforts to eliminate the scourge of violence and drug cartels that are responsible for so many tragedies inside of Mexico and we want to be a good partner in that process," Obama said.
Pena Nieto, visiting the White House for the first time as president, thanked the United States for its cooperation in fighting drug trafficking.
Obama for his part thanked his Mexican counterpart for his commitment to work with Washington on reforms that will help foreigners now living in America illegally, many of them Mexicans.
He credited "strong efforts by Mexico" with bringing down a surge in arrivals by unaccompanied minors from Mexico to more manageable levels. "But we're also going to be much more aggressive at the border in ensuring that people come through the system legally.
"And the Mexican government has been very helpful in how we can process and message that effectively both inside of the United States and in Mexico," Obama said.
Obama announced in late November a series of measures offering some five million people living in the country illegally -- out of a total of 11 million -- temporary legal status. Two-thirds of the people that can benefit from the reform are Mexican, according to the White House.
- Protesters in the snow -
Starting in spring, any undocumented foreigner who has been living in the country for more than five years, and has a US-born child or one with permanent US residency, can file for a three-year work permit.
Obama and Pena Nieto also discussed US plans to normalize ties with Cuba, a process in which Mexico wants to serve as a facilitator.
But the tragedy of the 43 students followed Pena Nieto to the US capital, in fact to right outside the White House.
In a snow-covered plaza across from the presidential mansion about 100 Mexicans called for him to resign, and said he should face trial for deaths and disappearances of Mexican citizens at the hands of state security forces.
"Plan Mexico: US supplies the weapons and Mexico supplies the dead bodies," said one banner. Many others mentioned the Iguala students.
"The presidential seat has turned out to be too big for Pena Nieto and we want him to resign," said Jaime Lopez, whose wife Joselima vanished in Mexico eight months ago. Mexican authorities say they have no information at all on her whereabouts.
President Barack Obama promised Tuesday the United States will be Mexico’s steady partner as it fights the scourge of drug related violence.
The pledge came in talks with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and as both leaders are at low points in their respective presidencies.
Democrat Obama spoke as Republicans bent on blocking his agenda in his final two years in power were sworn in to take over the House of Representatives and the Senate.
And Pena Nieto is under intense pressure over the latest tragedy tormenting drug-plagued Mexico: the disappearance and likely massacre of 43 college students in September in the southern Mexican town of Iguala.
That case has triggered a major scandal for Pena Nieto, seen as doing too little too late to find the students, who were attending a teachers college. In power since 2012 on a pledge to curb drug-related violence, his approval rating has plummeted.
The two presidents spoke for about an hour, touching on the case of the students and bilateral security issues as well as immigration and US plans to restore full diplomatic ties with Cuba.
Speaking later to reporters Obama called the case of the students “tragic”, and said Washington supported measures taken by Pena Nieto as a result of the students’ disappearance.
“Our commitment is to be a friend and supporter of Mexico in its efforts to eliminate the scourge of violence and drug cartels that are responsible for so many tragedies inside of Mexico and we want to be a good partner in that process,” Obama said.
Pena Nieto, visiting the White House for the first time as president, thanked the United States for its cooperation in fighting drug trafficking.
Obama for his part thanked his Mexican counterpart for his commitment to work with Washington on reforms that will help foreigners now living in America illegally, many of them Mexicans.
He credited “strong efforts by Mexico” with bringing down a surge in arrivals by unaccompanied minors from Mexico to more manageable levels. “But we’re also going to be much more aggressive at the border in ensuring that people come through the system legally.
“And the Mexican government has been very helpful in how we can process and message that effectively both inside of the United States and in Mexico,” Obama said.
Obama announced in late November a series of measures offering some five million people living in the country illegally — out of a total of 11 million — temporary legal status. Two-thirds of the people that can benefit from the reform are Mexican, according to the White House.
– Protesters in the snow –
Starting in spring, any undocumented foreigner who has been living in the country for more than five years, and has a US-born child or one with permanent US residency, can file for a three-year work permit.
Obama and Pena Nieto also discussed US plans to normalize ties with Cuba, a process in which Mexico wants to serve as a facilitator.
But the tragedy of the 43 students followed Pena Nieto to the US capital, in fact to right outside the White House.
In a snow-covered plaza across from the presidential mansion about 100 Mexicans called for him to resign, and said he should face trial for deaths and disappearances of Mexican citizens at the hands of state security forces.
“Plan Mexico: US supplies the weapons and Mexico supplies the dead bodies,” said one banner. Many others mentioned the Iguala students.
“The presidential seat has turned out to be too big for Pena Nieto and we want him to resign,” said Jaime Lopez, whose wife Joselima vanished in Mexico eight months ago. Mexican authorities say they have no information at all on her whereabouts.
