Mexico's military and police have reportedly vacated the port in Quintana Roo, Mexico, owned by Birmingham-based construction firm Vulcan Materials.
Last week, Vulcan CEO J. Thomas Hill claimed that a number of "heavily armed" Mexican military, police and state officials, accompanied by personnel of a Mexico-based building materials company CEMEX, informed Vulcan staff they had the order to bring a CEMEX ship to port and to unload cement.
"CEMEX, the military, and the police forced entry into our private property," Hill said. "They did not possess or present at that time in a court order, warrant or other official justifications for the action. As of today, March 16, we have not been presented [with] a single legal document, court order, or warrant justifying, or ordering this act. Government forces and CEMEX personnel continue to illegally occupy Vulcan's private property, as CEMEX unloads its ship supported by armed military and police forces."
The takeover immediately drew the condemnation of Alabama's congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), as well as U.S. Reps. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) and Jerry Carl (R-Mobile).
On Monday, Tuberville announced that most of Alabama's congressional delegation met with Mexican officials at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. earlier that day.
According to Tuberville, officials assured the delegation that the Mexican military had left the Vulcan's port facility, and law enforcement was no longer present at the facility.
Tuberville's office said he would continue to advocate for the Vulcan facility in Mexico to reopen as the company continues the arbitration process.
Britt was pleased with the withdrawal but issued a sweeping condemnation of Mexico's actions, which she shared with the Mexican ambassador on Monday.
"I am happy to hear that Mexican governmental forces have now heeded our request to withdraw from Vulcan's port facility following a nearly two-week unlawful takeover," Britt said. "There was never a legitimate reason for Mexican military and law enforcement personnel to forcibly occupy this Alabama company's private property. I personally reiterated my objections to this unacceptable behavior to Ambassador Moctezuma today at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C., and asked him to convey to President López Obrador that aggression towards American interests will not be tolerated."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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