56% Decline in Mexican Migrants Attempting to Reach the US

Did you know that far fewer Mexican migrants are attempting to reach the US? And those that are, are more educated and are looking for ways to enrich their lives.

 

Mexico has announced a 56% reduction in the amount of undocumented migrants crossing the country towars its northern border. This was in an attempt to prevent US President Donald Trump from enforcing high tariffs on Mexican imports.

 

Tariff Tax on Imported Goods

In May, President Trump announced he would impose a 5% tariff on all imported goods from Mexico starting from June 10. He stated that the tax would “gradually increase” until the flow of undocumented immigrants across the border stopped.

 

Following his announcement, President Trump and the Mexican government came to an agreement that Mexico was allowed some time to try and solve the issue before being slapped with the tariffs.

 

Mexico were given 90 days to try and crack down on migration, in an attempt to avoid the extortionate tariffs.

 

Will the US Enforce Tariffs?

Time is now up for their agreed time, and the Mexican government hopes that the significant reduction in migrants will help to fend off President Trump’s threat of trade tariffs.

 

Foreign secretary, Marcelo Ebrard was to meet with US officials on September 10, to discuss the next move between the two countries. Ebrard commented on September 6 that the number of migrants apprehended at the US-Mexico border in May, when President Trump threatened the country, was 144,266 and in August that figure was 63,989.

 

Ebrard also stated “”I don’t expect a tariff threat Tuesday because it wouldn’t make sense.”

 

According to Alejandro González, a political spokesperson from Reviewbox.com.mx, “Mexico drastically tightened security to try and reduce the number of undocumented migrants entering the US. The figure suggests that they were able to crack down on more than half the previous number, which should hopefully ensure that President Trump doesn’t enforce the tariffs.”

 

How did they reduce the migrant numbers? Mexico ensured better border checks were set up, including tighter security on the southern border and checkpoints on highways leading north. They also deployed over 21,000 police and soldiers across the country to ensure that migration was being correctly handled and dealt with.

 

Migrants in Mexico

The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who took office on December 1, had promised better treatment of migrants, but due to President Trump’s threats seemed to embrace the crackdown.

 

Migrant rights activists say that President López Obrador yielded to Trump’s pressure tactics, when he should have fought for his people and obtaining better treatment of migrants.

 

Some Mexican people believe that whilst Mexico is just trying to meet the US demands, it is also violating the law and causing more potential harm to its people. Due to the increased checkpoints, migrants are forced to walk through unpopulated areas, where thieves, muggers, and rapists might be.