Mexico Extradites Record Number Of Fugitives To The United States In 2006
December 28, 2006 — Garza: "At year’s end, I am pleased to highlight the record number of 63 fugitives who have been returned to the United States by Mexico in 2006 to face criminal charges. This is the highest ever number of extraditions in a year from Mexico to the United States and demonstrates our countries’ common commitment to bringing criminals to justice."(complete text)
Congratulations to Incoming Mexico City Mayor Ebrard
December 5, 2006 — Garza: “I was honored today to attend the inauguration of Marcelo Ebrard as the Mayor of Mexico City, the Federal District. The day-to-day challenges of managing this great city are daunting, and I am particularly pleased to extend my congratulations and best wishes as Mayor Ebrard assumes office.”(complete text)
White House Announces U.S. Delegation to Attend Inauguration of President-Elect Calderon
November 28, 2006 — Garza: "To emphasize the breadth and great importance of our ties with Mexico, President Bush has chosen as his personal representatives to the inauguration of President-Elect Felipe Calderon on December 1, 2006, his father, former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez. I too am deeply honored to have been asked to join this delegation."(complete text)
Statement by Ambassador Garza Regarding the Death of Journalist Bradley Roland Will
October 27, 2006 – "This violence caused me to issue an advisory to American citizens on August 24, 2006, urging them to consider carefully the risk of travel to Oaxaca and to exercise great caution if they did choose to enter the region. That advisory was set to expire on October 30, 2006. However, this week, I chose to reissue it in light of the continuing escalation of violence in Oaxaca. The tragic shooting of an American citizen today only heightens my deep concern for the safety of Americans traveling there."(complete text)
Department of State to Introduce Passport Card
Oct. 17, 2006 – The Department of State announced and submitted for public comment a federal rule proposing the development of a card-format passport for international travel by U.S. citizens through land and sea ports of entry between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.(complete text)
Public Announcement regarding Oaxaca City Extended
September 24, 2006 – The U.S. Embassy in Mexico and Department of State today announced their decision to extend the current Public Announcement regarding demonstrations in Oaxaca City, to alert U.S. citizens to the ongoing and potentially violent situation there.(complete text)
Remarks by Ambassador Garza at Opening of Forensic Laboratory
September 22, 2006 "The new forensic laboratory that we are inaugurating today is undoubtedly one of the most important achievements that the State has had in its work to increase its citizens’ trust in their justice system. This laboratory will help resolve criminal cases and bring dangerous criminals to justice. We all hope, as well, that this laboratory will help in the investigations of the hundreds of unsolved cases of murder of women in the Ciudad Juárez area in the past several years."(complete text)
U.S. Government Supports Small-Scale Mexican Farmers
August 24, 2006 - “Small-scale agricultural producers need assistance to stay competitive in changing markets dominated by supermarkets. Improved access to credit, market information, and new technologies will help these farmers stay in business,” said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio O. Garza, Jr.(complete text)
Ambassador Garza to Visit Guadalajara August 18–19
August 18, 2006 – U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio O. Garza is traveling to Guadalajara and will visit several important institutions, including the University of Guadalajara and its new Center for North American studies, the Hospital Civil, and the Instituto Cultural de Jalisco. The Ambassador also will talk about the growing and dangerous trade in illegal methamphetamines and will speak at a private luncheon at the American Chamber of Commerce.(complete text)
U.S. Authorities Arrest Drug Kingpin Francisco Javier Arellano Felix
August 16, 2006 - “Americans and Mexicans are safer thanks to quick action by U.S. law enforcement authorities, who on Monday, August 14 located and captured Javier Francisco Arellano Felix, a leader of the drug trafficking gang that bears his name. A U.S. Coast Guard vessel captured Arellano Felix while he was deep-sea fishing in international waters off the coast of Baja California,” said Ambassador Garza.(complete text)
Statement by Amb. Garza re the 11:00 p.m. announcement by IFE
July 2, 2006 - “I am convinced Mexicans will wait patiently and prudently as the Federal Electoral Institute reviews today’s voting records. I know that that the Federal Electoral Institute’s procedures will be thorough and transparent, and will result in a victory -- not only for a democratically-elected President -- but for all Mexicans."(complete text)
Ambassador Garza Visits Monterrey and Matamoros
June 22, 2006 - This morning at Banorte headquarters in Monterrey, U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza and Banorte Director General Luis Peña Kegel, signed a cooperative agreement to expand access to financial services for members of Pronegocio, a Banorte subsidiary. The U.S. Embassy, through its Agency for International Development, provides technical assistance to Pronegocio.(complete text)
New Web Page For Requesting Urgent Visa Appointments at the U.S. Embassy
June 15, 2006 – The Non-Immigrant Visa Section of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has implemented a web-based service for requesting urgent visa appointments. Emergencies include an unplanned and immediate urgent need to travel, such as a medical emergency, hospitalization, funeral, professional training, presentation in a conference, or the start of academic studies. Personal travel for pleasure to the U.S. fails to meet the emergency appointment criteria.(complete text)
Ambassador Garza says continued U.S.-Mexico Cooperation Is Key to Reducing the Trade in Illegal Drugs
June 12, 2006 - "One of the great success stories of the U.S.-Mexican bilateral relationship has been the increasingly strong cooperation between our law enforcement agencies. That cooperation has helped us to combat crime, not just in the border region, but throughout our two countries… And let’s be honest… much of the credit for this success should go to an extraordinary leader who is not here with us today… and that is President Vicente Fox": Ambassador Garza.(complete text)
Ambassador Garza Honors Mexican Law Enforcement Officials at the U.S Embassy
June 1, 2006 – At a ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Ambassador Antonio O. Garza, Jr. applauded the joint efforts of Mexican and U.S. law enforcement officials to fight crime in both the United States and Mexico. “It is only by sharing information and resources, and coordinating our efforts, that the U.S. and Mexican governments can curb the tide of violence and crime that is wreaking havoc in our communities,” said Ambassador Garza.(complete text)
Statement by Ambassador Garza
May 25, 2006 – “Today’s Senate vote is a critical step toward the President’s vision—one which will benefit the people of both countries. While the Senate vote is critical, the process of reforming our immigration laws is far from complete. The Senate now will enter into discussion and coordination on this bill with the House of Representatives.”(complete text)
The United States and Mexico Cooperate to Prevent Criminals from Selling a Baby
May 11, 2006 – Garza: “While law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border deserve recognition for preventing an infant from being sold and smuggled, Univision reporters should also be credited for preventing a serious crime from taking place. The arrests of Hidalgo-Rivera and Hernandez demonstrate the importance of cross-border cooperation, and provide one more example of why democratic government depends on the press to investigate and report.”(complete text)
Mexico Destroys Record Amounts of Marijuana and Opium Poppy
May 3, 2006 – Garza: “Mexico’s military and law enforcement community deserve recognition for the role its brave members have played in identifying and destroying opium poppy and marijuana fields. These eradication efforts are one more example of our ever-increasing effort to fight the war on drugs effectively and in cooperation with one another.”(complete text)
U.S. Senate Moving Closer to Immigration Reform Bill
April 6, 2006 – “While the process is a long one, ultimately our government is going to act in the best interest of the American people and consistently with the desire of Americans that our country be both a secure and a welcoming one. I am sure that in the coming weeks we will continue to see spirited, and at times heated, debate within our country on this significant issue.”(complete text)
Alleged Cop-Killer, Michael Paul Astorga, Captured in Mexico
April 3, 2006 - Garza: "We extend our appreciation to Mexico’s state and federal law enforcement authorities, who used information provided by their American counterparts to apprehend this vicious fugitive. Once again, the efficient exchange of information among our law enforcement officials has resulted in the rapid apprehension of a fugitive, and demonstrated that our border cannot be used to flee justice."(complete text)
U.S. Government Supports Energy Workshop for Rural Electrification
February 22, 2006 - Garza:“The demand for electrical power is rising dramatically throughout the globe and making energy cheap, clean, and available will be a major challenge. Mexico’s energy future will include alternative power, to be generated in the countryside. Our support for a workshop on renewable energy is an investment in Mexico’s future.”(complete text)
Mexico Honors Its 'Coming Up Taller' Award Winners and Sponsors
February 22, 2006 - The United States-Mexico Cultural Foundation honors the Margarita Septien Recreation Center of Colima and The Art and Children’s Project of Veracruz, which received "Coming Up Taller" awards from First Lady Laura Bush, as well as Coca-Cola of Mexico and the Televisa Foundation, who supported and sponsored the honorees.(complete text)
Student Visas: Secure Borders and Open Doors in the Information Age
February 16, 2006 - The Department of State is pleased to announce we have extended the length of time foreign students may be issued student visas. This is one of the elements of the recently announced Rice-Chertoff Joint Vision that will enhance border security while streamlining security processes and facilitating travel for visitors to the United States.(complete text)
United States and Mexico Reach Agreement on Cement Trade, Resolving a 16-Year Dispute
January 19, 2006 – Garza: “Leadership matters. Thanks to the commitment of the Mexican Secretary of the Economy Sergio Garcia de Alba and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez a nearly two decades old issue has been resolved. The United States and Mexico agreed today to liberalize trade in cement between our two countries. Now consumers on both sides of the border will be able to buy more affordable cement and both economies will benefit.”(complete text)
Justice for Crime Victims: Mexican Officials Attend U.S. Study Tour
January 11, 2006 - Ambassador Garza: “Justice for crime victims is more than punishing criminals. It requires that we commit ourselves to addressing the needs of the victims. By discussing our experiences and judicial systems, American and Mexican legal officials will find ways of making justice more accessible and equitable.”(complete text)