Mexico City, Mexico – In a recent development, President-elect Donald Trump claimed to have reached an agreement with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum to halt immigrants from reaching the U.S. southern border via Mexico. This statement indicated a significant diplomatic victory for Trump, following a phone call with the Mexican leader. However, Sheinbaum later clarified that Mexico’s stance was not to close its borders, but rather to build connections between governments and people.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce his positive conversation with Sheinbaum, stating that they had agreed to prevent migration through Mexico into the United States, effectively shutting down the southern border. The president-elect also mentioned that Mexico had agreed to immediately stop individuals from reaching the U.S. border, emphasizing that this action would greatly aid in curbing the illegal entry into the USA.
During the call, Trump and Sheinbaum also discussed strategies to address the flow of drugs into the United States, an issue that Trump had previously accused Mexico of facilitating. Shortly after their conversation, Sheinbaum released a statement outlining the discussions on Mexico’s approach to migration and highlighting that caravans were being managed within Mexico, preventing their arrival at the U.S. southern border.
Following Trump’s social media posts, Sheinbaum explained Mexico’s comprehensive strategy for handling migration while upholding human rights. Despite the fruitful dialogue, Sheinbaum made it clear that Mexico’s objective was not to shut down borders but to foster collaboration between governments and populations.
Cracking down on immigration at the southern border has been a prominent pledge made by Trump, alongside plans for mass deportations of undocumented individuals already within the U.S. Trump recently announced his intention to impose 25% tariffs on all products from Mexico and Canada as one of his initial executive orders, citing concerns over a caravan heading towards the open border.
In response to Trump’s tariff threats, Sheinbaum cautioned against a trade war between the two countries, emphasizing the potential negative impact on economic conditions. She highlighted that escalating tariffs could harm American automakers with factories in Mexico, such as General Motors and Ford.
The dialogue between Trump and Sheinbaum signals a pivotal moment in U.S.-Mexico relations, with both leaders seeking to address immigration and trade issues while maintaining bilateral ties and respect for human rights. The outcome of their discussions remains to be seen, but the ongoing dialogue reflects the complexity of managing border relations in a mutually beneficial manner.