In a move that has sparked concern among Mexican authorities, the United States government has announced plans to strengthen security on its southern border by designating certain areas as national defense zones. The decision comes amid a long-standing effort to curb migration and has been met with resistance from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum clarified that Mexico is not party to an agreement with the United States aimed at reducing immigration through military means. “We are not going to make an agreement of that type,” she emphasized. “They have the right to do whatever they decide in their country. We also have the right to say we disagree.”
The controversy centers around a decision by the Pentagon to assume control of a narrow strip of land along the border, spanning over 100 kilometers and set to become part of the Fort Bliss base near El Paso. The area will be subject to heightened security measures, including fines, arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment for unauthorized individuals.
Sheinbaum has expressed her disagreement with this approach, suggesting that addressing migration is a fundamentally social issue that requires development cooperation rather than military intervention. “We believe the approach should be different,” she said, reiterating Mexico’s stance on immigration.
The United States government’s decision to deploy more military presence along its southern border marks a significant escalation in efforts to curb immigration. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has implemented various measures aimed at reducing migration, including revoking immigration benefits for certain nationalities and deploying 10,000 members of the Mexican National Guard to control drug and people trafficking.
According to official statistics, the number of people detained while attempting to cross the US southern border has plummeted since Trump took office. In February, fewer than 30,000 individuals were apprehended, a significant drop from the 124,000 arrested in December during former President Joe Biden’s tenure. However, Sheinbaum remains committed to Mexico’s stance on immigration, emphasizing that it is a social issue requiring cooperation rather than military intervention.
Source: Aristegui Noticias
