Roberto Velasco, ratified this week as Mexico's Foreign Secretary, held his first phone call on Thursday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Topics included security, migration, and regional stability. Velasco also condemned the deaths of Mexicans in ICE custody.
Roberto Velasco Álvarez was ratified by the Mexican Senate on Wednesday, succeeding Juan Ramón de la Fuente, who resigned for health reasons. As subsecretary for North America under President Claudia Sheinbaum, Velasco has handled US-related migration, security, and trade.
During the call, Rubio congratulated Velasco and stressed deterring illegal immigration, border security, and regional stability, per the State Department. Mexico's Foreign Ministry confirmed talks on security progress, migration, and human rights.
Velasco deemed the deaths of 14 Mexicans in ICE custody since Donald Trump's return 'unacceptable,' citing cases in California, Georgia, Arizona, and elsewhere. 'It is unacceptable that Mexicans have lost their lives in ICE custody and we will continue to put this on the table from various legal perspectives in support of their families,' he told interviewer Manuel Feregrino.
His ratification faced criticism from PAN and PRI over his views on a UN report on forced disappearances, but Velasco emphasized empathy for victims' families and high standards for reports.
