Mexican foreign affairs secretary stops in El Paso, visits Walmart shooting memorial

Mexican dignitaries arrived in El Paso this week as part of a tour of Ciudad Juárez and several other cities along the U.S.-Mexico border in the hopes of tackling big issues like immigration, border infrastructure and trade.

Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena touched down in the Sun City Wednesday, April 17, where she hosted a break-neck series of work meetings with local leaders after touring migrant integration centers in Juárez earlier in the day.

El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said chief among Bárcena's concerns was the ongoing crisis at the border.

"She just felt that the United States should be a little more considerate of all the things they have to do to slow down immigration," Samaniego said. "But there's very little I can do at that level, except through (U.S. Rep.) Veronica Escobar, trying to make sure she carries that information forward."

Samaniego also noted that Bárcena enlightened him on a part of the CBP One app — migrants awaiting their turn to enter the country are given $100 each month to wait in their home country.

"Those kinds of things, she was very encouraging, very candid, very open about discussions on how we can work together," Samaniego said. "She was very appreciative of the relationship we have with Mexico."

But as the day began ebbing toward dusk, Bárcena and Samaniego paid a visit to the Healing Garden at Ascarate Park to remember those lost in the senseless carnage of the Aug. 3, 2019, attack by a racist gunman in El Paso.

"This Healing Garden means a lot to me," Bárcena said during her visit. "It's very symbolic, it's very profound, it's very deep."

"As the name says, a Healing Garden, where we come here to heal our wounds and to heal, I would say also, the disparities and the differences between our communities," she continued. "And I hope, between Mexico and the U.S., we will always keep together."

For Samaniego, Bárcena seemed to understand his vision for the monument, which he said goes beyond remembering victims of the heinous Walmart attack.

"She was able to understand the vision I have, which is that it's not just a place where 23 people died, but a place to remember unity and moving forth as a community," he said. "It's very peaceful, very scared ground that honors the victims by helping us come together ... and look at things differently."

Samaniego said Barcena has already made plans to return to El Paso for the fifth anniversary remembrance, along with famed labor leader Dolores Huerta, a close friend of the foreign affairs secretary.

"It was ... probably one of the most engaging kind of meetings that I've had with someone from Mexico," Samaniego recalled. "She spent a lot of time, probably two hours during lunch, very inquisitive, asking very good questions, like wanting to know who we are."

"She wanted to strengthen that relationship and exchange contacts," he added. "She was very genuine about wanting to understand more about our community."

After her visit to El Paso, Bárcena is scheduled to make stops in San Antonio, Eagle Pass and Laredo.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Healing Garden leaves 'profound' impact on Mexican government official