Mexico President Responds to Trump’s Claim of Migration Deal
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly contradicted President-elect Donald Trump’s claim that they have agreed to stop migration at the US-Mexico border.
After a phone call on Wednesday, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that Sheinbaum had “agreed to stop migration through Mexico and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border.”
However, Sheinbaum quickly responded, clarifying that Mexico’s position had not changed. She emphasized that Mexico’s goal is to manage migration while respecting human rights, not to close the border.
Trump’s announcement comes as tensions over trade continue. On Monday, Trump vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on China when he takes office in January. He stated that these tariffs would remain in place until illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the U.S. stop. Trump also mentioned that China would face tariffs until it took stronger action against the smuggling of fentanyl.
In response, Sheinbaum threatened retaliation, stating that Mexico would also raise tariffs if the U.S. follows through with its plans. Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard joined her, calling Trump’s proposal a “shot in the foot” and pointing out that the tariffs would likely violate the USMCA trade deal that Trump negotiated in 2018 with Canada and Mexico.
Despite the tension, Sheinbaum initially called her conversation with Trump “excellent” and mentioned that they had discussed Mexico’s migration strategy. She explained that migrant caravans are no longer arriving at the northern border because they are being managed within Mexico.
However, Trump’s social media post soon after indicated a different interpretation, stating that “Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately.”
Sheinbaum quickly clarified again, stating that Mexico’s strategy involves addressing migration while upholding human rights. She reiterated that Mexico does not intend to close its borders but instead seeks to foster cooperation between governments and peoples.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held an emergency meeting to discuss the potential impact of Trump’s tariff threat. While there was a commitment to present a united response, there were some signs of division. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith raised concerns about whether Trudeau was the right leader to handle negotiations with Trump, citing personal animosity between the two leaders.
As for China, authorities have not yet directly commented on the tariffs, but a Chinese official in Washington stated that no one would benefit from a trade war.
Illegal immigration was a key issue in the 2024 election, with Trump making border security a central part of his campaign. During the election cycle, the Biden administration implemented stricter policies that led to a significant reduction in illegal crossings at the southern border. Under pressure from the U.S., Mexico has intensified its crackdown on migrants, sending non-Mexican migrants to the southern part of the country, far from the U.S. border. This practice has led to many migrants, exhausted and without resources, voluntarily returning to their home countries.
When Trump takes office, he will inherit a situation in which illegal border crossings are at their lowest levels in four years.
