Mexico is growing more worried about being invaded by immigrants worldwide, according to McCaul
The Mexican Government Views Immigration Crisis as an Invasion, Says U.S. Lawmaker
The Mexican government views the crisis affecting its border with the United States as an invasion of its own southern boundary, according to a senior U.S. lawmaker.
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Mexico City this week and told the Washington Examiner that Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador had shared a growing frustration with how the immigration crisis was affecting his country.
McCaul said it was the first time he heard Mexico say, “We know it’s a problem for you all, but it’s our problem, too, and we want to work together with you on this.”
Short-Term and Long-Term Solutions
McCaul described a “lengthy” and “productive” meeting with AMLO, as well as top Mexican officials, about the immigration and fentanyl problems that both countries shared. But McCaul said the surprise was learning that both countries were on board in support of two particular short-term and long-term solutions.
- Mexico recently began flying Venezuelan immigrants back to Venezuela and has allowed the United States to fly Venezuelan immigrants to Mexico.
- A Republican House Foreign Affairs aide who attended the Mexico City meetings said Mexican officials were “very keen” about touting their work removing Venezuelans and McCaul would speak with lawmakers about how to help Mexico do more deportation flights.
“That would provide a major deterrence in the short term,” McCaul said. “They currently have some military down there that they would allow us to assist them with that effort.”
McCaul said officials he spoke with said it was a factor in why arrests by Mexican authorities were halved over the past month, though Mexico has not disclosed those numbers publicly and a request for comment to the Mexican government was not returned.
The House committee aide said the Mexican government was very quick to respond to the U.S. government’s demands to do more to deter and prevent immigrants from traveling to the U.S. after the Biden administration shut down ports of entry in Texas, Arizona, and California in December.
Infrastructure Project and Fentanyl Epidemic
Mexico is underway with a major infrastructure project along its southern border with Guatemala, installing a railroad line from east to west.
“[AMLO] is putting his military down there for the security piece, so we opened up the idea of providing security at that border as an entryway for the migrants, in addition, like a processing center, through which all the migrants would have to go through,” McCaul said. “They would be detained pending the adjudication of [asylum claims]. Those who don’t have political asylum get removed, and those that do would be detained there so that they don’t get into the United States.”
Additionally, McCaul said he met with the country’s top official handling Mexico’s response to the fentanyl epidemic at the Mexican navy and shared that overdose deaths from the drug have taken more than 200,000 American lives over the past two years.
Chinese entities produce precursor ingredients and tools needed to make the pills and powder. The items are imported by Mexican cartels, then manufactured and moved north over the border and into the U.S.
“The fentanyl thing is extremely complicated,” McCaul said. “We’re going to continue to deal with this problem until I think the technology is perfected.”
McCaul was optimistic about a $40 billion Mexican project to come up with a technological solution to stop fentanyl from being unloaded from ships at ports into the country, as well as being caught by U.S. customs officers at the land ports of entry, but said the technology needed to find fentanyl in large loads was still years off from becoming a reality.
As far as a House-Senate agreement on border and immigration language to include in a supplemental funding bill for Ukraine and Israel, McCaul said he believed that House Republicans should “still move forward on the things we can get.”
“The border problem’s not going away, and certainly it’s going to be worse a year from now if we don’t do anything. And so I think some would argue that we, they’d rather have this as an election issue and not give the Democrats any victories,” McCaul said. “But from a humanitarian or human tragedy issue … I don’t think we can wait until the next election.”
What short-term solutions have Mexico and the United States implemented to address the immigration crisis?
Xtra measure,” McCaul said. He added that the Mexican government was committed to addressing the fentanyl epidemic, which has been devastating both countries.
The United States continues to face an immigration crisis, with a significant number of individuals attempting to enter the country illegally. This influx of immigrants has put a strain on border security and immigration systems. However, the perspective of the Mexican government regarding this crisis has recently shifted. According to House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador now views the situation as an invasion of Mexico’s own southern boundary.
During a bipartisan congressional delegation to Mexico City led by McCaul, it was revealed that the Mexican government is increasingly frustrated with the immigration crisis and its impact on the country. McCaul mentioned that it was the first time he had heard Mexico state that it is not just a problem for the United States, but also an issue they want to address collaboratively. This change in perspective signifies a potential shift in the approach Mexico will take to tackle the crisis.
McCaul described the meeting with Mexican officials, including President López Obrador, as “lengthy” and “productive.” Both countries expressed their commitment to finding short-term and long-term solutions to the immigration and fentanyl problems they both face. One of the short-term solutions being implemented is the repatriation of Venezuelan immigrants. Mexico has begun flying Venezuelan immigrants back to Venezuela, and they have also allowed the United States to fly Venezuelan immigrants to Mexico. This joint effort aims to deter individuals from attempting illegal entry into the United States and provide relief to Mexico.
Additionally, the Mexican government has shown enthusiasm in addressing the fentanyl epidemic, which has been a significant concern for both countries. McCaul highlighted that Mexico has taken steps to decrease the number of arrests by Mexican authorities in the past month, although specific figures have not been publicly disclosed. He suggested that assisting the Mexican military stationed at the southern border with providing security could further enhance their efforts.
Mexico is also undertaking an infrastructure project along its southern border with Guatemala. The country is installing a railway line from east to west to improve transportation and security in the region. This initiative aims to provide additional support and help address the underlying issues contributing to the immigration crisis.
The United States has closed several ports of entry in Texas, Arizona, and California, prompting Mexico to respond swiftly to the demands of the U.S. government to deter and prevent immigrants from traveling to the United States. The Mexican government’s quick response indicates their willingness to cooperate and find a solution to the immigration crisis.
The shared commitment between the United States and Mexico to address the immigration crisis and the fentanyl epidemic is a promising step towards resolving these pressing issues. By working together and adopting a collaborative approach, both countries can find effective long-term solutions and alleviate the burden placed on their respective border security and immigration systems.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...