Trump claims Mexican president agreed to 'stop immigration', only to be contradicted

US President-elect Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the Mexican president had agreed in a telephone conversation to “stop illegal immigration” to the United States, something Claudia Sheinbaum denied shortly after, stressing that Mexico's position “is not to close the borders.”

“She agreed to stop immigration through Mexico and into the United States, closing our southern border,” the American president-elect said on his Truth Social platform, recalling “a wonderful conversation with the new president of Mexico.”

“Mexico is going to stop people from coming to our southern border, starting now,” he continued in another message, assuring that this measure would contribute “greatly to putting an end to the illegal invasion of the United States.”

These statements were shortly afterwards contradicted by the Mexican president on the social network X.

During the exchange with Donald Trump, “I explained the global strategy that Mexico has followed to face the migratory phenomenon (…) We reiterate that Mexico's position is not to close the borders, but to build bridges between governments and between peoples,” wrote Claudia Sheinbaum.

Earlier, the left-wing leader had specified that she had had an “excellent discussion” with the Republican on the subjects of security and immigration.

“We discussed Mexico's strategy in the face of the migration phenomenon,” she said on X, specifying that she told her interlocutor “that the caravans (of migrants) are not arriving at the northern border (between the country and the United States) because they are being taken care of in Mexico.”

This phone call comes a few days after the Republican tribune threatened Mexico, Canada and China with a sharp increase in customs tariffs.

– Fentanyl –

The president-elect confirmed on Monday his desire to “impose on Mexico and Canada customs duties of 25% on ALL products entering the United States”, starting January 20, the day of his inauguration.

“This tax will remain in effect until drugs, especially fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants stop this invasion of our country!” he added.

The Mexican currency, which fell to its lowest level in 28 months on Tuesday in response to these announcements, rebounded strongly on Wednesday.

Migrant caravans from several South and Central American countries are crossing Mexico to reach the United States by land.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 2024 © POOL – ALLISON ROBBERT

Donald Trump, who campaigned in 2016 on a promise to build a wall along the Mexican border, has hammered out violent rhetoric toward migrants throughout the presidential campaign, accusing them of poisoning American “blood,” and has promised to end what he calls an “invasion.”

The Mexican president said Wednesday that she had spoken with him about strengthening “collaboration on security issues” and a campaign in Mexico “to prevent the use of fentanyl.”

Donald Trump, for his part, mentioned a discussion on “what can be done to stop the massive influx of drugs into the United States, as well as the use of these drugs by Americans.”

Fentanyl is a synthetic drug “about 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin,” according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

According to Washington, fentanyl, often produced in Mexico with chemical compounds that come in particular from China, causes more than 70,000 overdose deaths each year on American soil.

– “Shoot in the foot” –

Before this phone call, the Mexican president had warned her future American counterpart of the consequences of her shock announcements: “President Trump, it is not through threats or customs tariffs that you are going to stop the phenomenon of immigration, nor drug consumption in the United States,” she had declared in a letter.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends a military parade commemorating the 114th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution at Zocalo Square in Mexico City on November 20, 2024 © AFP – Rodrigo Oropeza

Claudia Sheinbaum had threatened to increase Mexican tariffs on American products, complaining that this trade war threatens competitiveness, inflation and employment in North America.

“I am sure that there will be an agreement with the United States and President Trump,” assured the president.

The United States would be “shooting itself in the foot” with the increase in customs tariffs of 25% on Mexican exports, estimated Wednesday the Mexican Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard.

“The impact on businesses would be enormous,” he added in front of the press, estimating that 400,000 jobs would be threatened in the United States.

Mexico, more than 83% of whose exports go to the United States, is a member of the free trade agreement of North America with the United States and Canada (USMCA).

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