Washington, Rabi'I 16, 1436, January 07, 2015, SPA -- US President Barack Obama on Tuesday welcomed the president of Mexico to the White House, seeking an ally in new approaches to U.S. immigration policy, security, free trade, and Cuba. President Enrique Pena Nieto praised Obama’s executive order to shield from deportation some 4 million immigrants—most of them from Mexico—and his move to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. Both North American presidents said they hope the U.S. Congress approves an expected Pacific free-trade deal. The two leaders also discussed the September abduction and presumed killing of 43 college students, allegedly by local officials and police beholden to a drug cartel, in a scandal that has sparked massive protests in Mexico. Obama told reporters at the end of their meeting that Americans have been following the tragedy that has raised concerns about security in Mexico. The U.S. president said Pena Nieto described the reform program he is initiating around the issues. “Our commitment is to be a friend and supporter of Mexico in its efforts to eliminate the scourge of violence and the drug cartels that are responsible for so much tragedy inside Mexico,” Obama said. But “ultimately, it will be up to Mexico and its law enforcement to carry out the key decisions that need to be made.” Pena Nieto thanked Obama for working with Mexico on security challenges, and he offered to collaborate on the U.S. president’s effort to re-establish diplomatic and commercial relations with Cuba. --SPA 036 End DD 11:27 LOCAL TIME 08:27 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w