President seeks to prevent massive US deportations into Mexican territory

MEXICO CITY

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that she will look to strike a deal with President-elect Donald Trump to take deported immigrants from the US back to their countries of origin, not Mexico.

Mexico is looking to prevent a crisis at its border as Trump's second term approaches with his promise to deport undocumented immigrants en mass,

Sheinbaum explained at her morning news conference that Mexico is preparing for any outcome from Trump's campaign promises, especially regarding their shared border and the migrant Mexican population living in the US, which constitutes 23% of the 47.8 million undocumented immigrants north of the Rio Grande, according to the Migration Policy Institute think tank.

Mexico is addressing, as a priority, the more than 10.9 million Mexican immigrants threatened with deportation, pushing Sheinbaum to end the Trumpian tradition of relying on Mexico to take all immigrants ousted by the US.

"Obviously, we stand in solidarity with everyone, but our primary responsibility is to welcome Mexicans. We hope to reach an agreement with the Trump administration so that in case these deportations happen, they send people from other countries directly to their countries of origin," said Sheinbaum.

Trump launched anti-immigration policies during his first term that rely entirely on the willingness of Mexico to welcome ousted immigrants.

Mechanisms such as Title 42, or the Migrant Protection Protocols, commonly referred to as the "remain in Mexico" policy, pushed back any undocumented immigrant from any nationality into Mexico, with devastating effects on the human rights of millions looking for US asylum.

Mexico's role in Trump's anti-immigration policies was reportedly imposed through threats of tariffs on Mexican goods, a signature move of Trump’s Republican party.

"I've never seen anybody fold like that," Trump said at a rally in April 2022, as he recalled how Mexican officials cowered to his border demands.

Sheinbaum, however, is looking for a different approach.

"We will brief you soon; we are working on it. I repeat, there is an aspect that involves the consulates and another part that concerns the work we need to do in Mexico. We hope it doesn't happen, but if it does, we will be prepared to welcome them," she said.