Abbott should focus on unity in Mexico
It was 2007 the last time a Texas governor made a visit to Mexico. Since then, our neighbor to the south and its people have borne the brunt of damaging rhetoric during recent election campaigns led by current Texas leadership and aspiring national political hopefuls alike.
Those inflammatory comments and policies on immigration have led to conservative voter approval points in the U.S., but they also have tarnished Texas’ vital relationship with Mexico. This Labor Day weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott has the opportunity to redirect focus to the longstanding economic and cultural benefits of our relationship with Mexico. He should seize the opportunity.
The governor sent our southern neighbor an encouraging signal last July when he accepted an invitation by Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs José Antonio Meade Kuribreña to visit Mexico. Abbott’s choice to make good on that invitation quickly could speak volumes. The message Abbott delivers once there, however, is even more crucial.
Conservative audiences outside of the state may prefer that Abbott limit the scope of Texas’ relationship with Mexico to immigration issues, but the connection, as even Texans sometimes forget, is much more complex. Case in point: a $200 billion-a-year bilateral trade partnership.
As Texas’ largest export customer, Mexico receives 35 percent of the state’s exported goods and services, totaling $102.6 billion. Canada follows in a far second place with $31.3 billion in exports from Texas, according to the Department of Commerce.
And it’s not all about trade. Savvy consumers from Mexico frequently cross the border to shop for bargains all across Texas. They bring with them an annual spending value of nearly $5 billion in border cities alone, according to a 2012 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas study. And now with Mexico’s energy and telecommunications reforms opening the door to competition, Texas stands to benefit even more from residents in Mexico looking to save money. The reforms allow companies in the U.S. to provide services — including natural gas, electricity and cellular — in Mexico, which was something not previously possible. Such close ties means that it makes economic sense to have a close, respectful relationship.
The long and imperfect history between Texas and Mexico has been cordial enough to allow business partnerships to flourish and expand on both sides of the border. But business is not the only thing that binds Texas and Mexico. To that point, Texas’ execution of a Mexican citizen as well as immigration, border security and water policies have created significant tensions between the two.
Abbott was right to jump at the chance to start mending fences so early in his term. That’s not so say that Abbott should be the only party contributing to the conversation. Both President Enrique Peña Nieto and Abbott have plenty to discuss.
It is true that Abbott inherited some of the un-neighborly deeds committed against Mexico — including the deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops by former Gov. Rick Perry to the border, a move Peña Nieto criticized. But Abbott has also already committed insults of his own as governor. Among those are his claiming victory when a judge ruled against President Obama’s immigration executive action which could have deferred deportation for as many as 5 million immigrants living in the country illegally. Abbott, as Texas attorney general, led the suit against Obama.
Then, Abbott’s silence to GOP hateful speech wasn’t helpful. Abbott instead took a safe stance with conservatives and avoided remarks made by Donald Trump when he called Mexican immigrants criminals and rapists. Abbott will soon find out how much, if any, damage his actions and inactions may have caused.
Peña Nieto will have to answer questions, too. Among those Abbott may want to address are concerns of how corruption scandals, human rights violations, social issues and the violence that has killed more than 100,000 peo- ple in the last eight years in Mexico have created a cloud of mistrust and ineffectiveness in Peña Nieto’s leadership. The Mexican president should also give insight into how his administration will continue to handle immigration issues, including measures to deter migration to the U.S. from Central America.
Still, the opportunity to bridge the divide between Mexico and Texas presents itself.
Aside from addressing how to improve on current economic partnerships, both the Texas governor and president of Mexico should discuss water conservation. When either Texas or Mexico have experienced a drought in recent years, both argued over rights to water from the Colorado River and Rio Grande, which they share. Adequate solutions should be presented and considered.
Abbott and Peña Nieto have made addressing border crime a priority, including drug and human trafficking. This meeting is a perfect time to address the corruption on both sides of the border, as well as to update one another on new measures, upcoming changes and any progress made on fighting border crime. The two also need to have a civil discussion on the amicus brief filed by Mexico in support of undocumented parents who are suing the state of Texas after they were denied birth certificates for their children born here. Abbott should be prepared to suggest how the matter can be resolved.
Abbott’s visit will be short. He and Peña Nieto shouldn’t waste time pondering over rhetoric spewed by GOP candidates. Instead, the two leaders should focus on the issues that tie Texas and Mexico and identify ways to strengthen the relationship.