Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum has said that her country will defend its sovereignty and support Mexicans in the United States after President Donald Trump signed executive orders and actions that could impact millions of Mexican immigrants living in the US.
US President Donald Trump kicked off his term with a series of sweeping immigration executive actions.
They included declaring a national emergency at the US southern border, immediately ending use of a border app called CBP One that had allowed migrants to legally enter the United States, and kicking off the process to end birthright citizenship, which is expected to tee up a legal fight.
States are poised for immigration raids and Mexico is preparing to house an influx of people that will be left in limbo.
Migrant shelters in Tijuana — located across the border from San Diego, California — are bracing for a possible surge of migrants should Trump carry out his mass deportation plan.
More than 30 shelters operate in the Mexican border city, according to local authorities.
Sheinbaum said during a news conference on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, that the orders signed by Trump on Monday are very similar to those from his first term.
The Mexican President said, “We have already lived through it,” while noting that the number of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border is much lower than it was at that time.
Regarding Trump’s designation of cartels as terrorist organizations, Sheinbaum stressed that she will seek coordination with the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the matter.
However, she added that Mexico is a “free, independent, and sovereign” country and her government will act based on Mexican laws.
“We are going to act in defense of our sovereignty and to seek coordination and collaboration. And they (the US), in any case, act within the framework of their sovereignty in their territory.”
Claudia Sheinbaum
She also spoke about the controversy Trump generated by seeking to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Sheinbaum said that Mexico and the rest of the world would continue to recognize the area as the Gulf of Mexico.
Canada To Respond To Trump’s Tarrifs
Separately, Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau asserted that his country will respond “robustly” if US President Donald Trump follows through with imposing tariffs on Canada, telling reporters on Tuesday that “everything is on the table.”
Trudeau said at a news conference in French when responding to a journalist’s question, “If there are unfair tariffs, we will respond robustly and we will be there to support Canadians and protect our interests.”
Trudeau’s remarks follow after Trump said in an Oval Office signing ceremony Monday, January 20, 2025, evening that his administration will impose a 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico that may come as soon as February 1, 2025.
Trudeau also addressed Trump’s executive action, signed Monday, that directs officials to analyze how the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (the USMCA) is affecting American workers and businesses — and whether America should remain in the free trade agreement.
His action requires agencies to assess whether stricter US trade policy could successfully restrict the flow of fentanyl and of undocumented migrants into the United States.
“While less than 1% of fentanyl and illegal immigrants that enter the United States come from Canada, our government has already acted to address the concerns raised by the president about border security with an over $1 billion comprehensive border plan.
“We’re already working collaboratively to keep our citizens safe on both sides of the border.”
Justin Trudeau
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