Apprehensions of migrants unlawfully crossing the U.S. southern border continue breaking records, with over 300,000 encounters in December. And it doesn't look like the trend will change any time soon, threatening to become an electoral liability for president Joe Biden as it turns into a regular talking point among Republicans and polls show broad support for increased border security.
In this context, Biden is seeking to increase Mexico's support to stem the flow of migrants reaching its territory, with numerous trips from high-ranking officials to ask for more assistance from its counterparts. The latest took place in late December and included Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
In a recent press conference, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, commonly known as AMLO, asked the U.S. approve a plan that would see $20 billion in investment to Latin America and the Caribbean, suspend the US. blockade of Cuba, remove sanctions against Venezuela and grant at least 10 million Hispanics living in the U.S. the right to remain and work legally.
"Instead of pointing out that nothing is being done in Mexico to stop migrants, or unreasonably accusing our country, what U.S. lawmakers should be doing is approving a plan for the development of the peoples of Latin America," said López Obrador in his press conference on Friday January 5.
According to a report by NBC News, Mexico brings significant leverage to the ongoing negotiations, which are expected to resume this month in Washington DC. The outlet highlighted that, to bring numbers down, the Biden administration needs for Mexico to let it send back more non-Mexican migrants, as it was able to do until early 2023.
That stopped being the case since the policy, known as Title 42, ended back in May. Ever since, Mexico agreed to receive 30,000 non-Mexicans apprehended by the U.S. each month. However, that figure now represents 10% of the total.
The outlet said that Mexico has shown willingness to step up its cooperation, exemplified with the resumption deportation flights to Venezuela. In exchange for increasing the strength of the measures, Mexico wants more financial aid to police its borders, but also for the U.S. to contribute to addressing the root causes of migration by stepping up investment in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Regarding economic support for the region, AMLO mentioned that since the Kennedy administration, there has not been a development and integration plan for the region.
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