President Sheinbaum Says Mexico Is Trying To Find An Agreement With Donald Trump On Migrant Deportation

Illustration of the Mexican American border. (Wikimedia Commons/Sgt. 1st Class Gordon Hyde)

JAKARTA - Mexico is seeking an agreement with US President-elect Donald Trump to ensure they do not receive deportations from third countries in the event of large-scale migrant deportations from the United States, President Claudia Sheinbaum said.

Trump previously promised to take firm action against illegal immigrants in the US after taking office on January 20.

His partner, vice president-elect JD Vance, has put forward the possibility of deporting 1 million people per year.

Trump's transition team has discussed deportation of migrants to places other than their home countries if the countries do not accept them, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as quoted December 6.

Possible destinations could include Panama, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Grenada, said one source, confirming the NBC News report.

In late October, Trump's preferred border chief, Tom Homan, told Reuters that Mexico could be an option.

Mexico wants to reach an agreement with Trump, President Sheinbaum told a news conference.

"We hope to reach an agreement with the Trump administration so that, if this deportation happens, they will send people from other countries directly to their home countries," he said.

However, President Sheinbaum did not immediately say his government would refuse migrants from other countries.

NBC has reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, Trump could use the threat of charging Mexico tariffs to get the Latin American country to comply.

Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mexico has played an important role in implementing US immigration policies in recent years, accepting migrants from countries that are destinations for US citizen deportation, such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

At the same time, US Government estimates show nearly half of immigrants living in the US illegally are Mexicans.

Mexican officials are preparing to face the arrival of large numbers of Mexicans deported from the US after Trump took office in January, although President Sheinbaum believes the deportation is unnecessary, pointing to the contribution of Mexicans to the US economy.

Meanwhile, Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente who is currently in Uncle Sam's country visited the Customs Immigration and Enforcement Center in Dallas on Thursday to meet with migration officials and Mexican migrants who were deported under President Joe Biden's Administration.

When asked if Mexico would accept foreign nationals, de la Fuente said: "We will accept citizens from Mexico."

He noted that his government is working on "effective dialogue" with the United States and strengthening consular support and services for Mexicans living there.

"You're not alone," he said.