Yakima — On Wednesday, State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, along with attorneys general in five states and Washington, D.C., released a legal report that deemed the sanctuary cities executive order unconstitutional.
It didn’t take long for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to make it clear to Gov. Jay Inslee why he agreed to Friday’s meeting.
Pena Nieto had taken notice of denouncements by Inslee and other state officials of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and his executive order to punish sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“He was appreciative that we have stood up to members of our community who were born in Mexico,” Inslee said during a conference call with reporters from Mexico City on Friday afternoon.
Inslee’s visit to Mexico City was part of a weeklong trade mission to the country. Earlier in the week, officials including those from the state Department of Agriculture and Dairy Farmers of Washington visited Guadalajara, a city in western Mexico.
State officials wanted the message to be clear: Washington state’s views on everything from climate change to trade is far from the language coming from Washington, D.C.
“There (are) lots of folks concerned that some in the U.S. are not engaging internationally and closing up borders,” Brian Bonlender, director for the state Department of Commerce, said during the conference call. “It’s important for us to let our top trade partners know we’re open for business and we’re still promoting Washington state products and inviting investment outside the U.S.”
Inslee and Pena Nieto also discussed the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
The agreement is crucial for the local agriculture industry as Mexico and Canada make up about 40 percent of Washington state apple exports.
Trump recently started efforts to renegotiate the 23-year-old trade agreement.
Inslee said he was pleased Trump has moved beyond his campaign pledge to end the agreement and noted benefits in renegotiation, such as the opportunity to discuss expanding availability of Washington products such as milk and potatoes. The Mexican government currently has barriers in place limiting the importation of those two commodities.
Inslee also signed a letter of intent with Rafael Pacchiano Alaman, Mexico’s undersecretary for the environment, to collaborate on efforts to fight climate change, including using more clean energy.
Inslee noted efforts in Mexico City to combat climate change, including its plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“I think what you see is national and local leaders who have recognized the science,” Inslee said. “They’re not climate deniers.”
Along with Pena Nieto and Pacchiano Alaman, Inslee had meetings scheduled with Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera Espinosa, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray Caso and Minister of Finance Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena.
