Last Updated on June 10, 2022
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who currently serves as Mexico’s president, has renewed calls for a European Union-style, Pan-American state that would create open borders between all nations in North and South America.
“I will go in July to visit [President Joe Biden] at the White House and I want to discuss with him the issue of the integration of all America,” President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said at a press conference, according to Breitbart News. “My position is that, just as how the European community was created … we have to do that in America.”
“There has to be a change in the policy, an end to confrontation, an end to hate, an end to threats, the blockades, the foreign interference, and choose brotherhood, good neighbor policies.”
The idea was previously advanced by former President George W. Bush in 2001. In conjunction with Mexico’s president at the time, Vicente Fox, the two advanced the “Any Willing Worker” plan that would have allowed U.S companies to easily import cheap labor.
“Any Willing Worker” never moved forward, as the September 11 attacks completely sidelined the move.
Obrador’s Pan-American state idea was initially put forward by Simon Bolivar in the early 1800’s.
During the press conference, Obrador described Joe Biden a “a good man” and reiterated his plans to discuss the proposal next month. He also blamed the “inhumane and anti-immigrant” Republican Party for holding back improved U.S.-Mexico ties.
“Of course, the most inhumane, anti-immigrant, authoritarian [politicians] are the Republicans,” Obrador said.
The Mexican president wants to expand on the idea to include the U.S. and Canada. He also urged leaders not to be deterred by the will of their respective constituents.
“The option is transformation and you have to dare to do it. And you don’t have to keep thinking about the next election, you have to think about the next generation.”
In addition to the Pan-American state proposal, Obrador stated that he will “no longer be silent” on the issue of immigration and open borders.
“Not anymore, we will not remain silent anymore in the face of insults to immigrants and Mexicans. And I will insist on immigration reform,” he said.
