Mexico is preparing for a potential crisis at the U.S. border if Donald Trump follows through on his threat to carry out mass deportations. The country is implementing a “containment and exhaustion strategy,” according to Stephanie Brewer, WOLA’s Mexico director.
Containment Measures
President Claudia Sheinbaum has held two phone conversations with the president-elect, who has threatened a 25% tariff on exports from Mexico and Canada if they do not curb illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking. Sheinbaum denied that migrant caravans are advancing towards the U.S., as they did during Trump’s first term.
Since Sheinbaum took office on October 1, authorities have intercepted about 5,400 migrants daily, compared to 3,400 under her predecessor. Mexico is focusing on containing migrant movements and blocking deportations to its territory.
Pressure Tactics
In 2018, Mexico began accepting deportees from other countries in exchange for Trump withdrawing tariff threats. Under Title 42, Mexico received about three million people, 40% of whom were foreigners. Sheinbaum hopes to renew an agreement with Trump to send deportees directly to their countries.
Venezuelans pose a challenge as Caracas stopped receiving deportees in February, now sending them to Mexico. This situation highlights the U.S. using immigration policy as a bargaining chip, according to Rodolfo Rubio, a migration expert at El Colegio de Chihuahua.
Legal Strategy
Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente recently traveled to the U.S. to coordinate the defense of Mexican citizens, with an estimated six million undocumented Mexicans living there. Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, who served as foreign minister during Trump’s first term, warns that tariffs would be detrimental to the U.S.
Source: Excelsior
