Mexican police and military have withdrawn from the Vulcan Materials port, according to U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville.
According to Bloomberg News, Cemex SAB and Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials reached a temporary agreement regarding Cemex’s use of Vulcan’s port facilities.
Britt, Tuberville and members of Alabama’s congressional delegation met Monday at the Mexican embassy in Washington, D.C., with Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma. The meeting came upon the congressional delegation’s bipartisan request and letter sent last week.
Britt (R-Montgomery), the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, released a statement Monday night that Mexican government forces have left Vulca’s Punta Venado port facility in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
“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,” said Britt. “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.”
Tuberville also confirmed the Mexican forces have left and law enforcement is no longer present at the facility.
A Vulcan spokesman didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.