In the wake of his presidential victory, Donald Trump introduced plans to enact a 25 percent tariff policy against imports from Mexico and Canada, nations contributing to nearly a third of the U.S.’s trade volume. Trump’s goal is to address the increasing smuggling of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and manage the issue of unlawful immigration into the States. This bold move by Trump has, unsurprisingly, drawn both criticism and acclaim.
In response to Trump’s declaration, the respected community of conservative commentators voiced approval. They believe this influential tariff decision pressured Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo into proclaiming that no migrant caravans would be allowed to traverse their way to the U.S. border.
Rumors emerged suggesting a statement, believed to be from the Mexican President herself, was circulated and supposedly said: ‘Following the announcement of President Trump’s 25% tariff on Mexican goods, I assure that no migrant caravans are to proceed towards the U.S. Border.’
Trump vowed to keep this tariff enforcement active, stating it’s essential ‘until drugs, particularly fentanyl, and unlawful immigration cease to threaten our nation.’ Yet, in actuality, the statement from Sheinbaum Pardo had a slightly differing tone from what was initially propagated.
Despite addressing the topics of migrant caravans and the newly introduced tariffs, the esteemed Mexican President neither directly pledged nor declared the halting of migrant caravans due to the reform. Instead, Sheinbaum’s statement referred to Mexico’s current initiatives to mitigate border crossings and disperse caravans.
In a letter addressing Trump, Sheinbaum wrote: ‘Esteemed President-elect Donald Trump, I am penning this communication in response to your statement from November 25, which discussed migration, fentanyl trafficking, and the implementation of new tariffs.’
She continued: ‘It might be unbeknownst to you that Mexico has instituted a comprehensive policy to aid migrants from various corners of the globe who traverse our territory en route to the southern border of the United States.’
The Mexican president further added that this dynamic shift in Mexico’s policy has resulted in a significant reduction of border encounters. As per data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there has been a 75% decrease in encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border from December 2023 to November 2024.
Interestingly, Sheinbaum also pointed out that about half of those who arrived did so through scheduled appointments under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection One program. As a result of these combined efforts, migrant caravans no longer make it to the border.
However, nowhere in Sheinbaum’s letter was there a proclamation to crack down on migrant caravans. On the contrary, she cogently discredits assumptions suggesting stagnation in immigration management.
Provisional statistics from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicate that the number of border encounters dwindled to 106,344 in October 2024, a significant decrease from figures recorded in the same month of 2023 and 2022.
A closer look at the figures reveals that since December 2023, border encounters have rapidly declined. Post reaching a peak of 301,981 crossings in December 2023, the following four months saw a considerable subsidence, with the monthly average standing at roughly 104,900 encounters.
In tandem, interactions at legal crossing locations, commonly referred to as points of entry, have also notably dipped to an approximate 56,200 interactions per month. It’s fascinating to note that this figure either closely matches or sits below many monthly figures recorded during the last Trump administration.
While the letter sent by President Sheinbaum fails to directly declare an end to the migratory journey of caravans from Mexico to the U.S., it acknowledges the efforts already in place to curb migrations.
Sheinbaum also expressed that these actions have resulted in a significant reduction of migrant caravans arriving at the border, indirectly validating the effectiveness of the tariff strategy proposed by Donald Trump.
This dynamic situation yet again showcases the political acumen of Trump, his tariff introduction not only having a direct impact on the economy but also subtly altering the narrative around immigration, a testament to his relentless pursuit of American prosperity and security.
Trump’s Tariff Policy: A Formidable Step Towards U.S.’s Security appeared first on Real News Now.
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