Kirby Says Immigration Will Be ‘A Top Issue’ During Mexico Summit
John Kirby, Coordinator of Strategic Communications for the National Security Council at the White House, speaks during a news conference at the White House on November 28, 2022 in Washington. (Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told CNN that immigration “will be a major topic of discussion” during this week’s North American Leaders Summit in Mexico City.
“There is no question that immigration will be a major topic of discussion here for the next 24 to 36 hours. That’s clearly on everyone’s mind here in the hemisphere,” Kirby told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on Monday.
“I don’t want to get ahead of the president or what he’s going to be able to talk about at the end of the meeting, he’s going to have a chance to speak publicly about that tomorrow, so I’ll leave that to him, but clearly, they’re going to be talking about… enhancing capabilities in border. And we are grateful for the additional commitment that Mexico has made to take another 30,000 undocumented immigrants and keep them in Mexico, after they have tried to cross that border, and will allow Mexico to talk about additional commitments that they may or may not be willing to make.” .
Kirby said the leaders will also discuss the root causes of immigration during Tuesday’s summit, noting Vice President Kamala Harris’ work on the issue and indicating it would be a major topic of conversation during the visit.
“Her focus on this particular trip to El Paso … was to spend as much time as possible with federal, state and local authorities, the people who are really trying to handle immigration issues at the border and handle the migrants themselves. including religious leaders,” Kirby said. “He really wanted to spend time and give attention to those on the ground working with these migrants, so he could get a better idea of the challenges they face, the resources they need, the skills that are required. That was really the whole focus of the visit.”
He declined to comment on whether they are considering expelling former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been admitted to a hospital in Florida, telling CNN that the administration “is not in a position to verify his whereabouts or physical condition at this time, More than saying that we certainly have every indication that he remains here in the United States, and appropriately in terms of, you know, visas.”