Mexico City, Mexico – As Donald Trump — who during his campaign promised to use the military to enforce mass deportations of irregular migrants — prepares to take office in January, Mexican officials are looking for ways to prevent the tide of deported migrants from entering their country. .
During her morning press conference on December 5, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration is working toward an agreement with President-elect Donald Trump to prevent a massive influx of deported migrants into Mexican territory, as has been the strategy of impeaching Trump in his first term.
The Mexican strategy regarding Trump’s anti-immigration crusade will prioritize Mexican nationals living in the US, who make up 23% of all 47.8 million immigrants currently residing in the United States, of whom 45% or 5.1 million are undocumented immigrants.
“Of course, we are supportive of everyone, but our main function is to welcome Mexicans. And we hope to reach an agreement with the Trump administration, in case there are going to be these deportations, so that they can also send people from other countries to their countries of origin,” Sheinbaum said.
According to the president, the scheme will include a consular strategy in the U.S. As part of the initiative, she instructed Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente to visit the Consulate General in Dallas, Texas, to meet with the 11 Consulates living in Texas. Oklahoma and New Mexico on Thursday to restore the support and aid of the Government of Mexico to Mexicans in the United States.
“You are not alone; our network of consular services is being strengthened and we are prepared to support and protect you against any eventuality. This is a program that Dr. Sheinbaum had already proposed during her campaign to strengthen and improve consular services, not only in terms of protection, but also in terms of general assistance,” de la Fuente said during the meeting on Thursday.
According to De la Fuente, during his agenda, the Mexican diplomat visited ICE facilities to learn “firsthand” about the processes followed at the center to ensure that the human rights of citizens are respected at all times.
The initiative aims to lay the groundwork before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
As part of the diplomatic relationship between the newly elected Mexican president, who took office on October 1, and Trump’s second non-consecutive term, the shared border, migration and drug trafficking have been central issues in Trump’s threats.
Although Trump has promised mass deportations to address what he considers an “invasion” of undocumented immigrants, even announcing the deployment of military troops to ensure the immediate deportation of millions of immigrants, he will likely seek Mexico’s cooperation in admitted deportees.
However, Sheinbaum appears to be seeking to break away from the stance of her predecessor, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who offered Mexico as a partner for Trump’s anti-immigration policies, such as Title 42 or the well-known Immigrant Protection Protocols. rather like the “Remain in Mexico” policy which deported millions to Mexican territory.
