WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, U.S. Representative Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), and U.S. Representative Cori Bush (D-Mo.-01) this weekend returned from their congressional delegation to Colombia and Mexico.

“Last week’s visit to Colombia and Mexico strengthened the longstanding ties between our nations and reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to the region. I appreciated the opportunity to be one of the first delegations to meet with Colombia’s new government, and I commend their commitment to building prosperity for all Colombians,” said Murphy. “The trafficking of guns into Mexico and fentanyl into the United States are problems we must solve by working together, and we had productive conversations about doing more to stop these drugs and weapons from crossing the border. Right now, neither the U.S. nor Mexico is doing enough. We also met with NGOs and civil society experts doing critical democracy promotion and human rights work to learn how the U.S. can be a better partner in those efforts. At Mexico’s southern border, we met with migrants who had escaped violence in their home countries and discussed economic development with Tabasco Governor Campos. I’m glad Representatives García and Bush joined me for this important trip, and we’re grateful to our hosts and the embassy staff in Colombia and Mexico for their support.  ”

“We had productive meetings in Colombia where we reiterated our partnership and support as President Petro implements his progressive and inclusive agenda. In Mexico, Secretary Marcelo Ebrard expressed a commitment to work together towards solutions that will allow Mexican undocumented seniors to have access to health care and Social Security benefits so they can have a dignified retirement. I look forward to working with leaders of both countries as they implement needed reforms,” said García.

“Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Colombia and Mexico highlighted how critical collaboration is in addressing regional and economic security, mass migration, and racial equity,” said Bush. “It is clear that our country’s foreign policy must focus on strengthening bilateral efforts to advance social, racial, and economic equity. United States policies have a significant impact on human rights, and our work is to make sure that those rights are valued and protected. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with human rights groups and progressive lawmakers in each of these countries and will proudly carry these conversations with me as we continue to work to strengthen our bilateral relations.”

In Colombia, Murphy, García, and Bush met with President Gustavo Petro, Vice President Francia Márquez, President of the Colombian Senate Roy Barreras, and President of the House David Racero and joined the Universidad Externado de Colombia for a discussion with students on the 200 years of U.S.-Colombia relations.

In Mexico City, the three met with Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and members of the Mexican Senate to discuss gun and drug trafficking between the United States and Mexico and ways to work together to address migration. They also met with human rights groups Article 19, Serapaz, Centro Prodh, and Movement for our Disappeared on the violence against women and journalists in Mexico. In the state of Tabasco, Murphy, García, and Bush met with Governor Carlos Manuel Merino Campos and security and migration officials and visited a migrant shelter.

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