The governor of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, a state in northern Mexico which contains the City of Monterrey, is visiting Dallas this week. Last month, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson stopped in Monterrey as part of his first international trip as mayor.
"Over lunch that day, we began a conversation and relationship I know is only going to grow stronger as time goes on," Johnson says.
Wednesday, Johnson presented Samuel Garcia with the key to the city. He says he invited Garcia to Dallas less than a month ago.
"It just goes to show you Governor Garcia is a man of action, and Dallas is truly the place to be right now," Johnson says.
"You are a very multicultural community that is an example for the world of how we have to work together to solve problems together," Garcia says.
Garcia and Johnson say the relationship can increase trade and tourism between North Texas and Monterrey, one of Dallas' sister cities. Garcia says Nuevo Leon is building three additional highways that will shorten the trip from Texas to Mexico City by 75 miles.
"This region is going to be the best region of the world very soon," he says.
Garcia says immigration is handled by the Mexican federal government, but he has taken Governor Greg Abbott on a tour of Nuevo Leon's eight miles of border and showed him zero people have successfully passed through illegally.
Garcia says Nuevo Leon does not allow housing to be built along its stretch of the border.
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"Without people living and without housing, we can guarantee there will not be any drug smuggling or migration and be the most secure bridge in Mexico in five years," he says.
On trade, Johnson says building a long-term relationship will benefit both North Texas and Nuevo Leon long-term.
"I truly believe we have a real opportunity to enhance trade and tourism between our two jurisdictions," he says.
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