As the Trump administration attacks migrant communities, U.S. gun violence survivors build bridges for peace with Mexico.
This week, a delegation of U.S. gun violence survivors and advocates is traveling to Mexico City with Global Exchange and our Stop US Arms to Mexico program. Our mission: to share stories, build solidarity, and take action to stop the deadly flow of U.S. guns across the border.
This delegation is made up of passionate gun prevention advocates including, Kimberly Rubio, who lost her 10-year-old daughter, Lexi, in the Uvalde school shooting. Lonnie and Sandy Phillips, whose daughter Jessica was killed in the Aurora theater massacre, and Greg Jackson, former deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and gun violence survivor, are also part of this historic trip.
The delegation hopes to meet with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and has meetings scheduled with members of her cabinet, family members of Mexicans forcibly disappeared with the use of U.S. guns, and leading Mexican civil society organizations. They will share their experiences of healing, discuss policies to prevent gun violence, and support Mexico’s efforts to reduce the massive trafficking of firearms from the United States.
The delegation will also discuss actions taken in the United States to reduce gun trafficking, control the firearms market, and provide support for survivors of gun violence, which is a leading cause of death in Mexico and the United States for both adults and children.
Why Mexico? Because the epidemic of gun violence doesn’t stop at the border. Weak U.S. gun laws and an unchecked industry have flooded Mexico with American-made weapons — an estimated 250,000 firearms are trafficked every year. And according to ATF tracing data, at least 70% of crime guns seized in Mexico originate from U.S. sources.
The survivors’ delegation will hold a public press conference on Saturday, June 21, at 11:00 a.m. CST at the Monumento de la Revolución in Mexico City. The event will also be livestreamed via Zoom.
This trip is not symbolic. It is part of a growing movement to:
• Share survivor stories from the U.S. to shed light on the personal toll of gun violence here in the U.S.
• Exchange effective gun violence prevention policies, from assault weapons bans to Mexico’s “Sí al desarme, sí a la paz” disarmament campaign.
• Hear directly from Mexican officials about their efforts to reduce arms trafficking from the U.S.
• And most importantly, build trust and alliance, so the Mexican government sees U.S. civil society as a committed partner in ending this crisis.This is a rare and powerful moment of international solidarity, one rooted in truth, accountability and hope.
Follow us on social media as we document the delegation, uplift voices from both countries, and share stories from the ground. Instagram, X, Bluesky and Facebook.
Thank you for standing with us, and with everyone on both sides of the border working to stop the river of guns and build a future rooted in dignity and peace.