October 5, 2006

Dear Friends:

Yesterday, in a ceremony in Scottsdale, Arizona, President Bush signed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act which provides $33.8 billion in funding to help secure all U.S. borders. The focus of the bill—our nation’s security—is, of course, of deep importance to the American people and one that must be the top priority of our government. But in the midst of the passage of this bill, too little has been said about the President’s continuing commitment to comprehensive immigration reform, including the creation of a guest worker program to provide for the legal employment of millions of foreign workers in the United States.

In the signing ceremony yesterday, President Bush said: “The funds that Congress has appropriated are critical for our efforts to secure this border and enforce our laws. Yet, we must also recognize that enforcement alone is not going to work. You need comprehensive reform that provides a legal way for people to work here on a temporary basis. It's going to relieve pressure on the border. It will enable our Border Patrol agents to do a better job when we reduce the number of people trying to sneak into the country. It will free up our law enforcement officers to focus on criminals and drug dealers and terrorists and others who mean us harm. We'll continue to work with Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform that secures this border, upholds the laws, and honors our nation's proud heritage as a land of immigrants.”

Click here to read the President’s remarks in full

Additionally, I know that many of you have been following the dialogue between the U.S and Mexico on the increasing levels of violence along our shared border. Throughout Mexico, border violence has escalated dramatically with sharp increases in murders and kidnappings of Mexican and American citizens alike. On September 14, I issued an advisory message to American citizens describing the increased violence and asking them to exercise caution here. As Ambassador, one of my most important jobs is to alert Americans to any significant risks and to provide them with guidance on how best to protect themselves.

Click here to read the complete text of the Ambassador's advisory to U.S. citizens

On September 14, I communicated my personal concerns to President Fox and the Government of Mexico, who immediately organized a high-level meeting with officials from our two countries on September 21 in Laredo, TX. The rapid response by the Government of Mexico is further evidence of our strong bilateral cooperation in the battle against crime and violence—and also indicates how much urgent work we have to do to make our border region safe again.

Click here to read about the Meeting between US and Mexican officials in Laredo, TX

As we prepare for the upcoming Mexican presidential transition, our U.S. Mission has been actively exchanging views with the Calderon transition team and discussing how to further our mutual interests. Officials from the Embassy and I have met several times with members of the transition team to discuss our bilateral relationship. It is clear that the Calderon team recognizes the challenges our countries face, and we look forward to working with his administration in the coming years.

In addition to our ongoing discussions with the Mexican government, we have been very busy at the U.S. Mission during the month of September. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on recent events and developments.

On September 22, I traveled to Ciudad Juarez to meet with Chihuahua Governor Reyes Baeza. During the visit, we inaugurated the new Chihuahua state forensic laboratory in Ciudad Juarez, which will allow professional investigators to obtain and provide prosecutors with solid scientific evidence to apprehend criminals and bring them to justice. In addition, we inaugurated the bilateral “Watergy Project” which will promote water and energy efficiency to help Chihuahua communities improve sustainable water resources, energy, and water management programs.

Click here to read the text of the Ambassador's remarks in Ciudad Juarez

On September 14, our Non-Immigrant Visa section announced that, beginning on October 16, all DS-156 visa application forms must be filled out on-line through our user-friendly website. In addition to increasing the security and efficiency of the visa process, the new form will help speed up the visa process on the day of the appointment.

Click here for a link to the new on-line DS-156 form

Our Mission also has been diligently working with Mexican law enforcement officials on arresting and extraditing criminals charged with crimes in the United States. As of September of this year, Mexican law enforcement authorities have extradited 43 criminals to the United States, surpassing last year’s total number of 41.

In September we had two major extraditions, dealing severe blows to the border drug cartels. On September 8, Norte-Valle drug cartel kingpin Jaime Maya Duran was arrested and extradited to the United States. And on September 17, Mexican authorities handed over convicted drug-lord Rafael Arellano Felix to U.S authorities in Brownsville, Texas to face trial.

Click on the following to read more about these two important extraditions: Arellano Felix / Maya Duran

In addition, the Embassy’s USAID office has been very active this month. A technical team from USAID is concluding a tour of 13 Mexican states which received vehicles, lab equipment, computers and audiovisual equipment valued in excess of $3 million dollars, in support of the National Tuberculosis Program infrastructure. This equipment is used in local and state networks of TB laboratories for disease diagnosis and training by health departments.

Similarly, USAID has been working hard in the economic development sector. In September, officials traveled to Lima, Peru, with Mexico’s bank supervisory authority, the Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (CNBV). Top officials shared their success in supervising a growing group of cooperatives and microfinance institutions. In addition, USAID sponsored the presentation of a survey entitled “Preparing the States for Competitiveness: Ten Best Practices.”

The U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Service has also been active. Beginning September 27, sixteen American environmental firms hosted exhibits at the Enviro-Pro 2006 environmental show in Mexico City, the leading environmental event in Latin America. The Commercial Service and U.S. Ex-Im Bank are working closely with U.S. environmental firms to develop partnerships with Mexican firms, create jobs and economic opportunity, and support a safe and clean environment in this country.

Click here to read more about the U.S. Commercial Service's projects

In closing, this September 11, our country commemorated the passing of 5 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It was a somber moment for all of us in the Embassy community as we held a commemoration ceremony to remember those lost.

After our ceremony, a Vice-Consul told me that upon hearing about our Embassy moment of silence, the Mexican applicants waiting in the visa pavilion stood together, spontaneously, and held their own moment of silence. It is times like this, in simple moments of human emotion, where nationality disappears and we stand together as friends, and, I hope, appreciate the bonds of humanity that unite us.

Click here to read more about our September 11 ceremony

As always, I thank you for your interest in the activities of our U.S. Mission to Mexico. May God bless Mexico and the United States.

With best wishes, I am,

Sincerely,

Antonio O. Garza, Jr.

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