Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today released a statement reacting to the militarized seizure of Vulcan Materials Company’s port facility at Punta Venado in Quintana Roo, Mexico, at the hands of Mexican governmental forces.
At approximately 5:30 am local time on March 14, video footage shows the facility being breached and confiscated at gunpoint by Mexican military and police forces. A Mexican federal district court on March 16 ordered governmental forces to vacate the premises within 24 hours, however the property remains under military occupation as of 7:30 pm EST on March 19.
“This forcible seizure of private property is unlawful and unacceptable. It is shameful that this Mexican presidential administration would rather confiscate American assets than the fentanyl killing hundreds of Americans per day,” said Senator Katie Britt. “Mexico should be more focused on going after the cartels than law-abiding businesses and hardworking people. President Biden must raise this directly with President López Obrador and assure the American people that this will not be tolerated. The ramifications of this illicit seizure extend into the United States, significantly hamstringing important American infrastructure, energy, and other construction projects that currently rely on Vulcan’s operations in Mexico for materials. My office and I will continue to monitor this situation and ensure this is not swept under the rug.”
Senator Britt in February traveled to Mexico City and discussed the issue of increasing, illegal aggression by the Mexican government towards Vulcan with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard. Senator Britt has also discussed the matter with senior U.S. Embassy personnel in Mexico City. Vulcan is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
