President-elect Trump announced on his Truth Social site that, on day one of taking office, he will sign an executive order to impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Mexico and Canada, nearly $900 billion worth of imports.
It is a significant move designed to compel our two neighbors into action. For the past three years, both countries have done little to prevent migrants from crossing America’s borders, and bringing fentanyl and other drugs into our communities. Mexico is especially at fault here.
International laws about refugees and those seeking asylum have been clear for decades. A person escaping violence and strife from Guatemala, for example, has two options to seek refuge.
He could get on a boat and navigate the dangerous waters of the southern Gulf of Mexico and make landfall on the US coast. African immigrants who land in Italy or Greece have employed this method of using a body of water. Because these two countries are part of the large 28-member European Union block, quota agreements in Brussels have allowed migrants to travel inland to other European countries based on factors like population density, GDP, and considerations towards migrants.
The second alternative for this Guatemalan migrant is to enter another country that is relatively safer by land, which happens to be Mexico. A migrant’s journey claiming asylum ends as soon as he approaches a Mexican official. Mexico can either grant asylum or deport this migrant back to his home country.
If the migrant intends to seek asylum in the United States, he should go to an American Embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission in Mexico and file his request. He will have to either remain in Mexico (if Mexico agrees) while his asylum request goes through the due process or return to his country.
Ninety-five percent of migrants wouldn’t qualify for US asylum because they have to prove that they’re unable to return to their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on:
- Race
- Religion
- Nationality
- Political opinion or
- Membership in a particular social group.
Economic hardships or the desire to seek a better life in America are not grounds for asylum.
A migrant cannot illegally cross the border between Mexico and the United States to escape into America. The migrant has the right to surrender to a border post and file an asylum claim, but this is not the preferred way that America wants to process an asylum request.
Here is where Trump expects and demands that Mexico play a crucial role. By allowing a vast network of human traffickers to operate or by refusing to arrest migrants before they arrive at the US border, Mexico is indirectly complicit in the mass migration. Aiding and abetting a crime is a serious dereliction of duty as a responsible neighbor.
The liberal media is erupting at Trump’s message, arguing that across-the-board tariffs would hurt consumers and raise prices in America. But, critics fail to note that Mexico is likely to be hurt significantly more. The country can ill afford to have export volumes go down, as such an outcome can directly affect employment and wages. Such a scenario would force the Mexican government to act. If Mexico acts in good faith, Trump could even step up foreign aid or reward the southern neighbor in other ways.
Those opposing Trump’s plans also fail to consider the cost of illegal immigration to America. The federal and state governments spent millions to house and feed the millions pouring into the country. The threat posed by violent criminals illegally entering and disappearing into our communities cannot be ignored. The flood of undocumented migrants is stretching already overextended city budgets and changing the fabric of our neighborhoods.
The laws of physics say that every action results in an equal and opposite reaction. However, Newton’s laws do not apply to the United States in geopolitical circumstances. America is such a huge economic power that it can afford to repurpose its supply chains to source from other countries. Mexico doesn’t have the same luxury of finding new markets to replace American customers.
The point is that Mexico will get hit worse than America. Therefore, Mexico will act to meet Trump’s demands.
A brilliant move at very little cost.
