Latino Lawmakers Ask Rubio to Stop Blocking U.S. Envoy to Mexico

Latin American Herald Tribune: A total of 19 U.S. Latino lawmakers sent a letter to Republican presidential hopeful – and Florida senator – Marco Rubio asking him to stop blocking confirmation of the assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, Roberta Jacobson, as ambassador to Mexico, congressional officials reported Monday.

The legislators emphasized the U.S. government’s need to have a diplomatic representative in the capital of our southern neighbor as soon as possible, given that – after the exit of the man who had filled that post up until July, Tony Wayne – the post is vacant. Read more.

Mexico's U.S. Ambassador Reflects Nieto's 'Contempt for Diplomacy'

El Universal (Translated by: World Meets): The foreign secretary's recent appointments to our embassy in the United States speak to the contempt of President Peña Nieto's diplomacy. These appointments are being made after six months of vacant representation in Washington. During that time, Barack Obama nominated Roberta Jacobson, who has impeccable diplomatic credentials, as the next ambassador for Mexico. However, Peña Nieto opted for an old family friend from Mexico City to occupy the office, Miguel Basanez, who while is a respectable university professor, has no experience in the Foreign Service.

The already-ratified ambassador just held a disastrous meeting with senators from the National Action Party [PAN – now the main opposition party]. He acknowledged his lack experience but boasted of "citizen diplomacy." He suggested not reacting to the tough language of Donald Trump, "because it would grant him a level of recognition he lacks, since only one in 15 people in the U.S. follow him." He claimed that abuse of our migrants by U.S. authorities is a myth, and downplayed the negative image of Mexico projected by recent corruption scandals because, "the Americans are accustomed to dealing with African countries which are equally or more corrupt than ours."

Daughter of farm workers nominated

Mexico News Daily: The daughter of Mexican immigrant farm workers has been nominated the next American ambassador to Mexico.

Maria Echaveste, 60, is President Barack Obama’s choice to replace Anthony Wayne, who leaves the post this month after three years. Read more.