Mexico’s Immigration Crackdown

On the Thursday before Christmas, President Biden called Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and asked forBborder Help. The number of Migrants crossing into the U.S., about 10,000 per day, had reached the Highest Level of Biden’s Presidency. The Surge was creating Major Problems, including Lockdowns at a New Mexico High School where Migrants were streaming across the Grounds, and the Closure of a Rail Bridge over the Rio Grande that carried Commercial Goods.

Obrador responded by telling Biden to send a Delegation of Top Officials to visit Him in Mexico City. The next week, that Delegation, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, arrived for Talks. Mexico soon began to Enforce its own Immigration Laws more Strictly, making it Harder for Migrants from other Countries, to use Mexico as a route to the U.S.

Among other things, Obrador’s Government has increased Deportations of Migrants to their Home Countries, and Disrupted Bus Networks run by Cartels, that Funnel Migrants from other Countries toward the U.S. Border. The Crackdown has made a noticeable difference. Migration flows at the U.S.-Mexico Border fell more than 50% in early January, according to Data that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency released last week. The numbers have since Risen somewhat, but are still well below the December 2023 Levels.

Mexico’s Crackdown doesn’t come Close to solving the Migration Problem. Illegal Immigration remains far Higher than it was in the 2010s. Many Migrants now believe that they will be able to Remain in the U.S. for years, so long as they reach the Border, regardless of what the Law says. Voters are unhappy about the situation. So are Mayors and Governors from both Parties, who are struggling with Housing and Social Services. Nonetheless, Mexico’s recent efforts offer a Reminder: Stricter Enforcement of Immigration Laws really does tend to Reduce Migration Flows.

It’s One that many Politicians from both Parties question. In recent days, House Republicans and Trump have Criticized the Outlines of a Strong Bipartisan Senate Deal, that would significantly Tighten Border Security. Trump suggested it was “worse than No Border Deal.” Trump wants Continuing Border Chaos, it increase His chances of beating Biden in November.

Many Progressive Democrats, argue that Border Security is Ineffective at Stopping Illegal Immigration. The way to make a Difference, they say, is to Reduce Poverty and Oppression in other Countries, to make People less Interested in moving to the U.S. Something the Vice-President said when She got the Border Mission.

But the Evidence belies these Arguments. The Security of the Border, both Directly and Indirectly, affects Migration Flows. In the short term, a less porous Border allows fewer People to enter the U.S. For example, the Migrants whom Mexico recently Deported, including some who had arrived by Airplane from Outside the Western Hemisphere, might otherwise have made it to the U.S.

Longer Term, a more Secure Border changes the Calculation for People contemplating a harrowing Journey toward the U.S. If Entry to the U.S., a far Richer Country than most, seems likely, many more People will attempt it. If it seems Unlikely, the Costs of the Journey will Dissuade more. Mexico’s recent Crackdown is merely the latest Evidence of this pattern..

Social Media Videos, showing Migrants who have made it to the U.S., also play a role. The problem is, the Dysfunctional Asylum system will allow them to stay Indefinitely. This is the part of the System that has to be changed. We should build at the Border, a Court system, where the determination of who will stay, and not send the Migrants to U.S. Cities to what for years, to determine their Ststus.

In recent months, Biden has begun to Change His Initial approach, recognizing the Problems with a more Open Border. Last week, He promised to “to shut down the border” if Congress passed a Bill that allowed Him to do so.

It remains unclear whether Republicans will agree to such a Deal, mostly for Political reasons, will choose to let the Problem continue. Without a Deal, Biden is likely to look for ways within Current Law to tighten Border Security. They exist but are more Limited.

Either way, the Biden Administration appears to be on the Verge of doing the same thing that it recently urged Mexico to do. Enforce existing Immigration Laws more Tightly.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker