JOINT STATEMENT ON MIGRATION
ADOPTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

(May 6, 1997)

The issue of migration of Mexican nationals to the United States is a priority on our bilateral agenda. We, the Presidents of Mexico and the United States, hereby politically commit our respective governments to strive to ensure a proper and respectful management of this complex phenomenon taking into consideration its diverse causes and economic and social consequences in both countries.

During the last two years, our governments have engaged in consultations and exchange of information through many mechanisms and have produced significant progress in the bilateral treatment of issues such as the human rights and consular protection of migrants and efforts to combat migrant trafficking. This constructive dialogue should serve as a first step leading to specific proposals to manage migration between our nations in a mutually beneficial manner.

In pursuing these proposals, our governments reaffirm a commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation in the management of migration. We will be guided by the following principles:

On the basis of these principles, we, the Presidents of Mexico and the United States, commit our governments to intensify dialogue and to accelerate efforts to achieve the following goals:

We, the Presidents of Mexico and the United States, affirm our governments' political will to strive to fulfill a vision of our shared border in the twenty-first century as a place that supports and depends on building communities of cooperation rather than of conflict. In pursuance of this vision, our governments will work together to expand upon the foundation of progress made through joint planning and cooperation during the last two years in certain border areas. Both administrations will intensify efforts to achieve the following goals:

We, the Presidents of Mexico and the United States, call on the relevant agencies of both administrations to report to us in one year, through the Binational Commission, on the progress made towards the better management of the migration phenomenon and the transformation of our border into a model area of bilateral cooperation.

 Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León William Jefferson Clinton