Is Mexico Helping with Migrants?

            President Donald Trump grew weary with the way that Mexico was not helping to stem the flood of migrants traveling through Mexico to the southern United States border. He issued a threat to impose a 5 percent tariff on Mexican goods, increasing each month until it reach 25 percent. There were many complaints from Mexico and from companies doing busy with Mexico, but Trump stood strong until Mexico caved. Trump tweeted that an agreement had been reached between Mexico and the U.S. “I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico. The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico [June 10], are hereby indefinitely suspended.” 

            Mexico apparently took notice that Trump said “suspended” and not cancelled because they have stepped up their efforts to stop the illegal immigration into the United States. They have deployed 1,000 immigration agents to the north and to the south of Mexico. They plan to position 6,000 National Guard troops along it southern border with Guatemala. They have increased the enforcement on the well-traveled immigration routes, checking identification of travelers on public transportation and private vehicles, and pulling off anyone without proper identification papers. They are looking for illegal migrants as well as drug smugglers and human traffickers. They recently discovered 791 people packed into four tractor-trailer trucks in an effort to move them across Mexico. The drivers were arrested, and the migrants were taken to detention centers for migrants. 

            Is Mexico really helping to stem the flow of migrants into the United States, or are they merely putting up a façade? They may be serious in their attempt this time because the top immigration official resigned two days ago. He was an activist for human rights and apparently believed that people had the right to migrate to the United States. He disagreed with the President of Mexico efforts to stop the migrants and was not present in the negotiation meetings with the United States. His replacement is reportedly the former head of prisons.

            Mexico is currently hosting more than 11,000 asylum seekers returned by the United States. The migrants must remain in Mexico while their cases are being tried. There will most likely be more migrants returned to Mexico in future months. The new situation is straining the ability of the cities in along the borders, and there are simmering problems with anti-immigrants. In southern Mexico would-be migrants are feeling fear and uncertainty about their situation.

            It is a definite problem for all concerned, and it has been caused by Democrats and liberal Republicans who refuse to do the right thing for the country. The border problem should have been fixed years ago, but politicians refused to do what they are being paid to do. Now we have a President who is willing to stand firm against the politicians. It is a sad day when an American president has to fight Congress in order to carry out the will of the American people!

            Even though the threat of tariffs was suspended for the time being, Mexico has been warned of the consequences if they do not stem the flow of migrants. If the flow is not stopped in 45 days, the U.S. will attempt to force asylum to first seek refuge in Mexico. If the flow is not stopped in 90 days, Trump will seek to impose tariffs.