US and Mexico in talks to limit surge of migrants reaching border
GuardianDec 31, 2023
White House: US, Mexico Hold 'Productive' Meeting Amid Record Migrant Crossing
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The Facts
The White House has described more than two-hour-long, closed-door border talks between top officials in the Biden administration and Mexican Pres. Andrés Manuel López Obrador that took place Wednesday in Mexico City as "productive."
Mexico reportedly shared plans to crack down on migrant smugglers, with its top diplomat Alicia Bárcena revealing that discussions also covered the importance of the US-Mexico economic relationship and the so-called underlying causes of migration, such as poverty, violence, and family reunification.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Even though the border crisis has reached breaking point and the mainstream media is expressing concern, Joe Biden has refrained from using the legal tools at his disposal to fix the problem once and for all. It's outrageous that the White House is begging Mexico, which has long been complicit in migrant smuggling, for help simply because they want to avoid border negotiations with Republicans.
Democratic narrative
Mexico and the US must increase cooperation and enforcement at the border to slow the surge in illegal crossings — these latest talks reflect progress towards this goal. Only improved diplomacy with Mexico and other Latin American nations, geared towards helping them thrive socially and economically and fight drug trafficking, can offer a sustainable response to solve the southern border crisis.
