February 11, 2025 6:30 pm
February 11, 2025 6:30 pm

MEXICO-US-POLITICS-MIGRATION-BORDER

A group of migrants seeking asylum in the United States through the CBP One digital application wait in line near the Paso del Norte international bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua State, Mexico, on November 28, 2024. Mexico’s position is ‘not to close borders’, said President Claudia Sheinbaum on November 27 after US President-elect Donald Trump said in a message that she had agreed to ‘stop’ migration by ‘effectively closing’ the crossing points between the two countries. (Photo by Herika Martinez / AFP)

Donald Trump’s policies regarding the U.S.-Mexico border were a central focus of his presidency and remain a prominent aspect of his political platform. Here are the key elements of his border policies:

1. Border Wall Construction

  • Objective: To build a physical barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
  • Progress: By the end of his presidency, around 450 miles of barriers were built or reinforced. However, much of it replaced existing fencing rather than adding entirely new barriers.
  • Funding: Trump’s administration faced challenges securing funding from Congress, leading to a partial government shutdown. He declared a national emergency in 2019 to redirect military funds for wall construction.

2. Immigration Policies

  • Zero-Tolerance Policy: Implemented in 2018, it mandated the prosecution of all illegal border crossings. This led to the controversial separation of families at the border as children were housed separately from detained parents.
  • Remain in Mexico Policy (Migrant Protection Protocols): Required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their U.S. immigration hearings were processed.
  • Restrictions on Asylum: Tightened criteria for seeking asylum, including disqualifying individuals who traveled through third countries without applying for asylum there first.

3. Increased Border Security

  • Deployed more Border Patrol agents and utilized technology like drones and sensors to monitor the border.
  • Increased cooperation with Mexico to enforce stricter immigration controls, including pressuring Mexico to deploy its National Guard to prevent Central American migrants from reaching the U.S.

4. Tariff Threats

  • Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Mexican goods unless Mexico increased efforts to curb illegal immigration. Mexico complied by enhancing its immigration enforcement.

5. Public Stance

  • Trump framed the border wall and his immigration policies as essential for protecting U.S. sovereignty, jobs, and safety, often emphasizing these points during campaign rallies.

These policies drew significant support from his base but were also criticized by opponents as being harsh, inhumane, or ineffective in addressing broader immigration issues.

A bridge with Mexican and US flags is seen on the border of El Paso, Texas, United States, with Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua State, Mexico, on November 28, 2024. Mexico’s position is ‘not to close borders’, said President Claudia Sheinbaum on November 27 after US President-elect Donald Trump said in a message that she had agreed to ‘stop’ migration by ‘effectively closing’ the crossing points between the two countries. (Photo by Herika Martinez / AFP)

Mexico’s role in enforcement

Mexico played a significant role in enforcing U.S. immigration policies during Donald Trump’s presidency, primarily due to diplomatic and economic pressure exerted by the Trump administration. Here’s a detailed analysis:


1. Tariff Threats as Leverage

  • June 2019 Tariff Threats: Trump announced a plan to impose escalating tariffs on all Mexican imports, starting at 5% and increasing to 25%, unless Mexico took decisive action to curb illegal immigration.
  • Outcome: Mexico avoided the tariffs by agreeing to stricter immigration enforcement, which included deploying the Mexican National Guard to stop migrant flows and expanding its efforts to detain migrants heading north.

2. The Role of the Mexican National Guard

  • Mexico deployed approximately 6,000 National Guard troops to its southern border with Guatemala to intercept migrants.
  • This action significantly reduced the number of Central American migrants reaching the U.S. border, contributing to a drop in apprehensions.
  • The National Guard also patrolled Mexico’s highways and checkpoints, often detaining migrants traveling toward the U.S.

3. Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)

  • As part of the agreement with the U.S., Mexico agreed to host thousands of asylum seekers under the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
  • Migrants were required to wait in Mexico while their asylum claims were processed in U.S. immigration courts.
  • Mexico faced criticism for this role, as many asylum seekers were stranded in overcrowded border towns like Tijuana and Matamoros, often living in unsafe conditions with limited resources.

4. Crackdowns on Migrant Caravans

  • In response to U.S. pressure, Mexican authorities intensified efforts to stop migrant caravans from Central America.
  • Migrants were intercepted en route and detained in immigration facilities, with many deported back to their home countries.

These measures disrupted the movement of large groups of migrants that had previously traveled through Mexico to reach the U.S.

Texas National Guard officers patrol on the border of El Paso, Texas, United States, with Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua State, Mexico, on November 28, 2024. Mexico’s position is ‘not to close borders’, said President Claudia Sheinbaum on November 27 after US President-elect Donald Trump said in a message that she had agreed to ‘stop’ migration by ‘effectively closing’ the crossing points between the two countries. (Photo by Herika Martinez / AFP)

5. Humanitarian Challenges

  • Mexico faced significant challenges managing the influx of migrants:
    • Overwhelmed resources in shelter systems and immigration centers.
    • Increased tensions with local communities in northern border towns where migrants were concentrated.
    • Rising concerns over human rights abuses, with advocacy groups accusing Mexican authorities of excessive force and poor conditions in detention centers.

6. Diplomatic Dynamics

  • Mexico’s cooperation marked a shift from prior policies, as it traditionally sought to advocate for migrant rights.
  • The decision to collaborate with the U.S. was largely driven by economic necessity—averting tariffs was crucial for preserving Mexico’s export-dependent economy.
  • Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) framed the cooperation as a pragmatic move to avoid economic disruption.

7. Effectiveness and Criticism

  • Effectiveness:
    • Migration flows from Central America to the U.S. decreased in the short term, with apprehensions at the U.S. border dropping significantly after June 2019.
  • Criticism:
    • Human rights organizations condemned Mexico for effectively acting as an enforcer of U.S. immigration policies at the expense of migrant safety.
    • Many argued that the measures merely displaced the issue rather than addressing the root causes of migration.

Conclusion

Mexico’s enforcement efforts were critical in implementing Trump’s immigration agenda, driven largely by economic threats. While these actions helped reduce illegal crossings, they exposed Mexico to significant humanitarian challenges and criticism for collaborating in policies that some viewed as inhumane. 

 
Picture of Phatam B. Gurung

Phatam B. Gurung

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