WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after Roberta Jacobson, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, announced her resignation:

"With the resignation of Ambassador Jacobson, the State Department is losing an exceptional public servant whose expertise and determination have been critical to sustaining a strong relationship with Mexico, one of our most vital allies. I commend Ambassador Jacobson for her years of invaluable service to the United States, not only as ambassador to Mexico, but also as an instrumental voice in our work to improve the lives of the Cuban people.

"The position of ambassador to Mexico could not be more important than it is today. A close and productive working partnership with our southern neighbor is essential for making progress on some of the most pressing issues facing the United States, including trade, immigration, national security and drug trafficking along the border. In New Mexico, thousands of families depend on our maintaining strong relations with Mexico, our state's most significant trading partner. But President Trump and his administration continue to jeopardize this crucial relationship with destructive rhetoric and policies that belittle the Mexican people, demonize immigrants, and undermine trade between our two nations.

"Threatening to tear up NAFTA unilaterally and continuing to push an outrageously expensive and ineffective border wall are not productive. And President Trump's bombastic and aggressive posture distracts from the real work on trade and security that we must undertake together. Ambassador Jacobson's replacement must have unparalleled qualifications and be willing to chart a different course than what we've seen so far from this administration. I encourage the administration to work with the Senate in a bipartisan way to find a nominee who understands and values our critical relationship with Mexico, and who will serve the national interest."