In Mexico, a major crackdown on migration is taking place, as immigration agents are busily rounding up migrants at various checkpoints. For example, on September 24, dozens of migrants were put on a bus heading away from the U.S. border near Ciudad Juarez.
This operation is part of Mexico’s largest effort to manage migration, which includes transporting non-Mexican migrants to the southern part of the country, far from where they might try to cross into the U.S.
Since January, Mexico has detained about 100,000 migrants each month, the highest number on record. This crackdown is helping reduce the number of migrants caught at the U.S.-Mexico border to its lowest level since 2020.
Polls show that voters trust Republican candidate Donald Trump more than Vice President Kamala Harris on handling immigration, which is why this crackdown is crucial before the U.S. presidential election on November 5.
As Justin Gest, an immigration expert, explained, a chaotic border situation benefits Trump, and Mexico’s actions help the Biden administration manage that perception.
The Mexican government’s strategy seems to tire out migrants so they give up before reaching the U.S. A Venezuelan man named Jose Diaz shared his experience of being bused over 2,000 miles to southern Mexico, saying, “They send you back, and then you have to head north all over again.”
While Mexico claims its goal is to protect migrants from human traffickers, many officials privately acknowledge that the measures contradict this humanitarian policy.
This crackdown is also a response to pressure from the U.S. government, which has included closing trade routes into Mexico that cost the country about $100 million a day.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that she will work with the winner of the U.S. election, but Mexico’s foreign ministry insists the migration strategy is not related to the election.
Despite the rising number of detentions, the Biden administration’s asylum ban and other efforts are also credited with reducing migrant apprehensions in the U.S. However, some experts argue that Mexico’s crackdown has been crucial in this reduction.
In fact, the country has seen a dramatic drop in the issuance of humanitarian visitor cards, a document that helps migrants avoid detention.
As migrants are taken away in buses—sometimes with their hands cuffed—there are concerns about their treatment and lack of communication during transport.
Ana Saiz, from Mexico’s public defender’s office, criticized the busing practices as illegal, highlighting how migrants often lack proper documentation during their journey.
This situation underscores the complexities and challenges surrounding migration in both Mexico and the United States, especially as the U.S. election approaches .
Credit : Reuters