Neither official nor unofficial: Mexico has no communication regarding US visa withdrawal
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
MEXICO CITY – Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco stated on Thursday that he has "no official or unofficial communication" from the United States regarding an alleged withdrawal of visas from two Mexican governors amid rising bilateral tensions. The governors in question are Alfonso Durazo of Sonora and Américo Villareal of Tamaulipas, who both denied reports on Wednesday that the US had revoked their visas due to an alleged investigation into their supposed ties to organized crime, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. "We have no official communication on this matter, nor unofficial. This is not a topic on which there has been any communication from the US government," Velasco said during a press conference alongside his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, at the Foreign Ministry in Mexico City. On Wednesday, Durazo, from the ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena), rejected the notion that he needed to "prove" he has a valid visa to travel to the United States. He also urged US authorities to "clarify the information" if such an investigation exists. Meanwhile, the governor of Tamaulipas, also from Morena, posted a video on social media criticizing the journalistic reports and the "false, biased accusations lacking any evidence to support them." The reactions from both politicians come after the Los Angeles Times reported that Durazo and Villareal are being investigated in the US for alleged connections to organized crime and fuel smuggling (known in Mexico as "huachicol"). The publication indicated that Washington has revoked their visas, but both politicians continue to enter the United States regularly under cooperation programs with US authorities. If this investigation is confirmed, it would represent another step in the recent campaign that Washington has launched against active Mexican politicians and their alleged ties to organized crime, following an urgent request in April for the arrest of ten officials from Sinaloa, including Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, for drug-related offenses. Velasco also mentioned that the tone of conversations with the US ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, has been one of cordiality and friendship between the two countries.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
