Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call addressing the proposed tax on remittances, migration flows, arms trafficking, and border security in a bid to strengthen cooperation.
In a focused telephone conversation on May 30, Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tackled several high-priority issues, including the proposed 3.5 percent tax on remittances, migration trends, bilateral security cooperation, and the joint fight against arms trafficking. Both officials emphasized that stronger U.S.-Mexico collaboration serves shared interests in economic stability and public safety.
Opposition to the Remittance Tax
During the call, the Mexican Foreign Ministry (SRE) noted that Minister de la Fuente underlined “the importance of remittances for Mexican families and the reasons why Mexico opposes the proposed 3.5 percent tax on them.” Remittances from Mexican workers in the United States account for roughly 12 percent of Mexico’s gross domestic product, according to recent central bank figures. Millions of households rely on these funds for daily expenses, education, and basic services in rural and urban communities alike. De la Fuente reiterated Mexico’s stance: a tax on remittances would disproportionately affect low-income families, hinder financial inclusion, and contradict commitments under bilateral migration agreements.
To press the point, de la Fuente confirmed that a delegation of Mexican legislators will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to meet directly with their U.S. counterparts. The aim is to provide a firsthand account of how the remittance flows sustain local economies across Mexico. In past weeks, Mexican lawmakers have engaged informally with congressional aides and organized informational briefings; the upcoming visits will include meetings with members of both the House and Senate. The Foreign Ministry’s press release stressed that these visits reflect a coordinated effort by Mexico’s executive and legislative branches to protect remittance channels—an essential lifeline for roughly 10 million Mexican households.
Security Cooperation and Border Management
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, Secretary Rubio identified security as “one of the priority topics” during the exchange. The two sides discussed efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, which remains a key concern for both nations. They agreed to enhance intelligence sharing to detect and dismantle transnational criminal organizations involved in drug and human trafficking. This includes coordinated patrols along border zones, joint training exercises for law enforcement, and expanded use of technology to track illicit cross-border movements. Rubio emphasized the need to address root causes of migration—namely poverty, violence, and lack of economic opportunity—in tandem with enforcement measures.
Mexico reiterated its commitment to deepen cooperation against arms trafficking. In recent years, U.S. law enforcement has seized thousands of firearms destined for Mexican cartels. Both sides recognized that tracking illicit weapons flows requires improved data sharing and investigative collaboration. Rubio and de la Fuente talked through ongoing initiatives, such as specialized arms-trafficking task forces that align federal, state, and local agencies on both sides of the border. These interagency teams focus on tracing firearms and ammunition to their source and disrupting the financial networks that sustain cartel violence.
Migration Challenges and Economic Security
Migration also featured prominently in the call. Mexico agreed to bolster construction of migrant shelters in the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, aimed at providing temporary housing and basic services to Central American migrants stranded at the border. U.S. officials, in turn, signaled potential technical assistance to improve Mexico’s asylum processing capacity. Both ministers stressed the importance of safe, legal migration pathways and agreed to work on expanding opportunities for temporary, circular migration streams that benefit agricultural and service sectors in both countries.
Beyond migration, the conversation addressed “promoting economic security in North America,” a goal that gained urgency since the Trump administration’s tighter border policies. The two ministers outlined broader plans to diversify supply chains, encourage regional investment, and reduce economic inequality that fuels irregular migration. De la Fuente proposed a joint working group to explore infrastructure projects—port upgrades, rail links, and renewable energy installations—that could create jobs in border regions. Rubio welcomed this proposal and promised that the State Department would coordinate with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office to assess feasibility.
President Sheinbaum’s Follow-Up and Citizen Engagement
Later in the morning of May 30, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo held her regular press conference at the National Palace and affirmed that her administration will continue dialogue with U.S. legislators. Sheinbaum said she will travel to Washington to personally engage with senators, aiming to explain the social and economic implications of the remittance tax proposal in more depth. She noted that “remittance flows are often the only form of income for families in rural communities, and any new tax would undermine local development.”
In her address, Sheinbaum encouraged Mexican migrants to keep writing letters and making phone calls to U.S. senators, sharing testimonies about how remittances sustain their relatives back home. “They’re already doing this with various senators, by sending letters and talking on the phone,” the president said. “A team will be arriving next week to continue those conversations. Our ambassador in Washington is also in direct contact with senators and with the State Department itself.” Sheinbaum underscored that citizen input is a vital component of democratic advocacy: “These families deserve a platform to explain their realities.”
To reinforce this point, Sheinbaum screened several short video clips at the press conference featuring Mexican immigrants explaining their dependence on remittances. One clip showed a mother in Puebla describing how funds from her daughter’s salary in California pay for her children’s school fees. Another featured a farmer in Guerrero who uses remittance income to purchase seeds and fertilizers. The president said these videos demonstrate the human stakes behind policy proposals debated in Washington.
Legislative Visits and Continued Engagement
In the coming days, Mexican legislators from both major parties will cross party lines and cross the border to meet with members of the U.S. Congress. They plan to present data on remittance trends, guest speakers who can detail the economic impact at the community level, and local officials who have seen the positive effects of remittances translated into regional development. On the U.S. side, congressional aides have arranged roundtable discussions in both Democratic and Republican offices, recognizing the bipartisan nature of remittance flows and migrant contributions.
Meanwhile, the State Department confirmed additional high-level consultations on security issues are scheduled for mid-June, including a summit in San Diego that will bring together border governors from both nations. Discussions there will delve into border infrastructure, joint task force results, and ways to modernize customs processes to facilitate lawful trade and travel.
This coordinated push on multiple fronts—legislative outreach, security task forces, and public engagement campaigns—signals both governments’ recognition that remittances, migration, and security are interlinked. U.S. officials have repeatedly said that disrupting cartel networks requires understanding the economic drivers of migration and cross-border commerce, while Mexico maintains that protecting remittance flows is essential to sustaining social stability.
