(Adds Mexican president quote; context)
MEXICO CITY, May 8 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres
Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday he will discuss migration
with U.S. counterpart Joe Biden this week, shortly before a U.S.
policy shift that is expected to drive an increase of migrants
at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Lopez Obrador said he would hold a video call with Biden on
Tuesday, with topics to also include the dangerous synthetic
opioid fentanyl and economic cooperation.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre declined to
confirm the call in a briefing with reporters.
The U.S. on Thursday is slated to end a policy known as
Title 42, which since 2020 has allowed U.S. authorities to send
migrants back to Mexico without the chance to seek U.S. asylum.
Asked about the policy change, Lopez Obrador urged
migrants to seek legal pathways to enter the U.S.
He also asked the U.S. to quickly process visa
applications.
"We're making the respectful suggestion ... that they
don't take too long to give out permits," Lopez Obrador said.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle and Raul Cortes Fernandez in
Mexico City, and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington
Editing by Dave Graham, Daina Beth Solomon)
