U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) called on Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Thursday to end his government's continued campaign to wrongfully seize land owned and operated by Vulcan Materials Company, an Alabama-based construction aggregates producer.
The Mexico administration last week issued a declaration designating Vulcan's land and port as a naturally protected area. This would rob Vulcan of its rights to the land and ability to operate the port. This is the latest in a long line of attempts by the Mexican Government to take over the property.
Other Senators opposing the move by Obrador include U.S. Sens Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) and Tim Kaine (D-Virginia)
"Make no mistake, President López Obrador's recent effort to label Vulcan Materials Company's land and port in Quintana Roo, Mexico, as a 'naturally protected area' is an expropriation of a lawfully permitted, U.S.-owned operation. We are deeply concerned by the Government of Mexico's latest effort to illegally acquire the property that Vulcan operates," Britt, Tuberville, Hagerty, and Kaine said in a statement on Thursday. "This American company has a proven track record of going above and beyond required permits that were routinely renewed by all levels of government to protect sensitive areas, reforest native jungle, preserve archaeological sites, and establish protected wildlife habitats. The López Obrador administration is continuing to set a dangerous precedent with these actions, undermining the long-standing bilateral relationship between our two countries and eroding international confidence in Mexico's adherence to the rule of law. We remain committed to using all appropriate tools at our disposal to deter the Government of Mexico from seizing Vulcan's lawfully owned and operated property and ensure no entity or individual benefits from its theft."
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