New reports are indicating that Mexico and the United States are closing in on a deal where Mexico increases its immigration enforcement in exchange for the United States not imposing tariffs.
BREAKING Mexican and US officials are discussing deal that would dramatically increase immigration enforcement in Mexico w/National Guard, and transform asylum rules across entire region by making applicants seek refuge in first country they arrive to https://t.co/pMBvlaOpKC
— Nick Miroff (@NickMiroff) June 6, 2019
According to The Washington Post:
U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing the outlines of a deal that would dramatically increase Mexico’s immigration enforcement efforts and give the United States far more latitude to deport Central Americans seeking asylum, according to a U.S. official and a Mexican official who cautioned that the accord is not finalized and that President Trump might not accept it.
Faced with Trump’s threat to impose escalating tariffs on Mexican goods beginning Monday, Mexican officials have pledged to deploy up to 6,000 National Guard troops to the country’s border region with Guatemala, a show of force they say will make immediate reductions in the number of Central Americans heading north toward the U.S. border.
The Mexican official and the U.S. official said the countries are negotiating a sweeping plan to overhaul asylum rules across the region, a move that would require Central Americans to seek refuge in the first foreign country they set foot upon after fleeing their homeland.
Under such a plan, the United States would swiftly deport Guatemalan asylum seekers who set foot on U.S. soil to Mexico. And the United States would send Honduran and Salvadoran asylum applicants to Guatemala, whose government held talks with acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan last week.
The person with knowledge said it looked as though a deal could be reached between the two sides but was unsure if Trump would like it enough to hold back on his tariff threat.
