San Francisco - President Joe Biden concluded his visit to San Francisco by holding a bilateral meeting with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The leaders engaged in discussions on addressing migration challenges and establishing a united response to this common issue. The meeting took place on Friday, as part of President Biden's agenda during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.

According to a statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the leaders aimed to explore how they could continue working together as partners to manage migration at their shared border while mobilizing a hemispheric-wide response. The statement emphasized the importance of collaboration and acknowledged the existing efforts of both countries to enforce borders and establish legal pathways for migrants.

President Biden expressed gratitude to President López Obrador and his team for their commitment and leadership in tackling the migration challenge. He commended the Mexican President for his previous cooperation in addressing migration issues. It was noted that President López Obrador has been the first U.S. President in recent times to refrain from constructing walls on the border, a clear reference to former President Donald Trump's policies. However, it should be noted that the Biden administration has waived federal laws to permit additional border wall construction in Texas.

This meeting builds upon the long-standing bilateral relations between the United States and Mexico, continuing a partnership rooted in shared values, cultural ties, and familial bonds. The leaders had previously met in Mexico City in January, where they discussed counternarcotic efforts, economic integration, climate commitments, and irregular migration.

Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the U.S., highlighted that the meeting between President Biden and President López Obrador would largely focus on containing migration flows to the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that has dominated U.S. diplomatic efforts during the Biden administration.

While Republicans have consistently criticized the Biden administration's stance on the U.S.-Mexico border, both Democratic and Republican leaders have expressed concerns and sought federal assistance in handling the influx of migrants to their states or cities. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, in an October letter to President Biden, emphasized the need for the federal government to take a more active role in managing the transportation and destination of asylum seekers.

The administration has taken some steps to address immigration challenges, including extending temporary protected status to more Venezuelan migrants and providing additional active-duty personnel to support border efforts. However, the White House has repeatedly called on Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform.

The outcome of efforts to stabilize the U.S.-Mexico border will greatly impact President Biden's electoral narrative leading up to the November elections next year. If the border situation can be brought under control, particularly in the late spring and summer, it would be seen as a significant achievement for the Biden administration.

The meeting between President Biden and President López Obrador marked the conclusion of a series of meetings between President Biden and foreign leaders during his visit to San Francisco. Notably, President Biden had a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling a renewed dialogue between the two countries after a yearlong communications drought.

Following the meeting with President López Obrador, President Biden hosted an APEC Leaders Retreat and officially transferred the chair position to Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. President Biden is set to travel to Wilmington, Delaware, where he will spend the weekend before resuming his engagements and addressing key issues in the coming weeks.

In conclusion, the meeting between President Biden and President López Obrador underscored the importance of collaboration and cooperation in managing migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The leaders acknowledged the challenges and discussed potential solutions, aiming to establish a united approach to address this long-standing issue.