The threat of tarriffs work.

'Migrant Caravans Not Reaching Border, Mexico President Says After Trump
Threats'

<https://www.newsweek.com/caravans-not-reaching-border-says-mexico-president-after-trump-threats-1991916>

'exican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed U.S. President-elect
Donald Trump's renewed threats of steep tariffs this week, asserting
that migrant caravans are no longer reaching the U.S.-Mexico border.

Her remarks underscored growing tensions as Trump plans to tighten
immigration policies and impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexican imports.
Trump declared that the tariffs would remain in place "until such time
as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this
Invasion of our Country!"

"Caravans of migrants no longer reach the border," Sheinbaum said on
Tuesday while presenting a letter she plans to send to Trump in the
coming days. She also emphasized Mexico's efforts to curb the flow of
drugs, including the synthetic opioid fentanyl, while noting that it
remains "a public health and consumption problem within your country's
society."

Newsweek reached out to Trump's transition team for comment on Tuesday.

As Trump prepares for his second inauguration, his harsh rhetoric on
migration has resurfaced, coinciding with a caravan of approximately
1,500 migrants from Central and South America heading toward the U.S.
border before his proposed policies take effect.

The urgency is partly fueled by Trump's promise to dismantle measures
such as the CBP One app, which currently allows migrants to schedule
asylum appointments remotely. However, Sheinbaum reminded Trump that
Mexico is not to blame for the caravans reaching the border.

"Maybe President Trump doesn't know this, but of those arriving at the
border—which is significantly fewer, 75 percent less than in December
2023—half them have a CBP One appointment. In other words, they have an
appointment. So, they [the U.S.] are the ones inviting them to come to
the United States," she said.

Sheinbaum also highlighted Mexico's proactive role in addressing
migration while criticizing the U.S. for failing to tackle the root
causes. "If a percentage of what the United States spends on war were
dedicated to peace and development, it would address the underlying
causes of migration," she said, advocating for regional investment over
punitive measures.

On the subject of tariffs, Sheinbaum suggested Mexico could retaliate.
"One tariff would be followed by another in response, escalating until
we risk harming mutual businesses," she warned, pointing to U.S.
automakers with manufacturing plants on both sides of the border.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also revealed on
Tuesday he had a "good" call with Trump after the President-elect
similarly threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada. Trudeau
expressed confidence that the U.S. and Canada could work together in
"constructive ways" to address their differences.

However, Trump's threat faces significant obstacles. The
U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) prohibits member countries from
unilaterally imposing tariffs on one another. Moreover, sudden measures
could disrupt the interconnected economies, particularly the auto
industry, where production relies heavily on cross-border supply chains.

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"It is unacceptable and would cause inflation and job losses in both
Mexico and the United States," Sheinbaum said, adding that she is open
to dialogue. "We expect to have a conversation with him very soon," she
noted.

As of November 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a
significant decrease in migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border
compared to the previous year. In October 2024, there were approximately
100,000 encounters, marking a 75 percent reduction from the same period
in 202'