The meeting between the presidents of the United States and Mexico on Tuesday, July 12, resulted in an investment agreement of US$ 1.5 billion in technology by the Mexican government on the border between the countries.

In a joint statement released by the White House, Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Joe Biden said they would fund a joint infrastructure effort to improve security and efficiency on the southern border.

The statement said that the bipartisan infrastructure bill Biden signed into law last fall would contribute funds to modernization projects in “border infrastructure” over the next two years: “Borders that are more resilient, more efficient, and safer, will enhance our shared commerce.  We are committed like never before to completing a multi-year joint U.S.-Mexico border infrastructure modernization effort for projects along the 2,000-mile border.  The joint effort seeks to align priorities, unite border communities, and make the flow of commerce and people more secure and efficient.  President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $3.4 billion to undertake 26 major construction and modernization projects at land ports of entry on the northern and southern border.  These land port modernization projects will create good-paying local jobs, bolster safety and security, and make the economy more resilient to supply chain challenges – all while serving as models for sustainability and innovation.  Mexico has committed to invest $1.5 billion on border infrastructure between 2022 and 2024”.

Biden and López Obrador met in the Oval Office to discuss a wide range of issues not just limited to immigration or border security. The US president, who has resisted constant criticism of his government due to the increase in border crossings, praised López Obrador's efforts to go after criminals in the narcotics trafficking and human smuggling networks.

“The tragic deaths of migrants at the hands of human smugglers in San Antonio further strengthens our determination to go after the multi-billion-dollar criminal smuggling industry preying on migrants and increase our efforts to address the root causes of migration.  The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security and Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office have coordinated to arrest and prosecute those who endanger the lives of vulnerable migrants, including through the work of Joint Task Force Alpha and its Mexican partners”. […]  Towards this effort, we’ve deployed 1,300 additional personnel, conducted 20,000 disruption operations, and we’ve made over 3,000 arrests, all since April”.

The statement also made reference to the two leaders’ agreement to improve supply chains, “strengthening mechanisms to create more secure and efficient corridors for trade and commerce, foster an environment that encourages investment to help generate more and better jobs for our people in both countries”; in addressing climate change by focusing development efforts “on climate solutions and the development of southern Mexico, with its vast human potential and important opportunities for commerce, conservation, and clean energy”; and in alleviating inflation “by accelerating bilateral trade facilitation and reducing the costs of trade”. “The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement enhances the free flow of goods without barriers, which promotes innovation that boosts productivity and increases resilience, helping both countries fight inflation and supporting families”, also according to the statement.

According to The Hill publication, “The two leaders appeared to have a friendly meeting on Tuesday, despite López Obrador at times publicly criticizing the U.S. López Obrador also met separately with Vice President Harris, who is leading U.S. efforts to address the root causes of migration”.  

The meetings were held about a month after López Obrador boycotted the Summit of the Americas hosted by the U.S. after Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela were not invited.