Destabilizing Mexico Would Make the US Less Safe and Wealthy
Trump’s revival of his punitive immigration playbook will overwhelm Mexico’s overburdened state, sandbag regional economic growth and enrich criminal cartels.
Tijuana is going to run out of tents.
Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images South AmericaPresident Donald Trump vows to remove millions of unauthorized migrants from the US and stop new entrants at the border. Bringing back the punitive playbook from his first administration not only won’t fix today’s border challenges. It will further destabilize Mexico and exacerbate threats to both countries.
Congressional Republicans have taken the anti-immigrant cue, holding an early hearing bent on reviving restrictive border policies. The migrant Protection Protocols, colloquially known as “Remain in Mexico,” forced asylum seekers to await their case hearing in Mexico. Title 42 was even more ambitious in its exclusion, using the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency to expel migrants apprehended at the border. And yes, building the wall is back in vogue, albeit without talk of getting Mexico to pay for it.