“The number of (temporary) work visas to enter the US will be considerably expanded,” he told a regular news conference on his return from Washington where he met his US counterpart Joe Biden on Tuesday.

Lopez Obrador did not give details.

Esteban Moctezuma, Mexico’s ambassador to the US, said in an interview with a local newspaper that visas for Mexicans will increase next year as a result of the Washington talks.

“Mexico, I imagine, it’s an assumption, will have about 260,000 H2A visas,” Moctezuma told newspaper Milenio, adding that final details are still being negotiated.

Mexico aims to boost the number of work permits every year, he added.

While in Washington, Lopez Obrador called on the US to allow for more legal work visas, but Biden only went as far as highlighting existing programs used by Mexicans and Central Americans.

Washington did not confirm an increase in visas yesterday, saying only that access to visas for Mexicans and Central Americans had already been ramped up, and that the Biden administration would keep working to expand access.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the governments said they would form a working group on labour migration pathways.

During his visit, Lopez Obrador also touted US$40 billion worth of planned investments in Mexico by US companies between now and 2024. Yesterday, he added that the spending would mostly go to the energy sector.

Billions of dollars in foreign investment in Mexico have been held up by disputes between companies and the government as Lopez Obrador tightens state control of the energy market.