Mexico's Migration Strategy: A New Approach Under Alicia Bárcena
In just 27 days, Alicia Bárcena will transition from being the foreign secretary under Andrés Manuel López Obrador to Claudia Sheinbaum’s environment minister. Before her departure, Bárcena is focused on solidifying Mexico's migration strategy for the upcoming years. Dubbed the "Mexican Model of Human Mobility," this plan entails a significant investment of $133 million in countries of origin, the establishment of two new care centers in Chiapas, and facilitating the transport of migrants with asylum appointments in the United States. Bárcena emphasized that her model, which has successfully reduced irregular crossings into the U.S. by 66%, will continue under Sheinbaum's administration.
The Biden administration has agreed to manage 4,000 crossings a day, with a limit of 1,500 through its CBP One platform. This comes after the U.S. announced the closure of seven border posts due to a surge in migrant arrivals. Bárcena's focus remains on creating safe routes for migrants entering Mexico, ensuring that they are not exposed to the dangers of their journey. The recent negotiations with the Biden administration allow migrants to request an appointment for CBP One from anywhere in Mexico, expanding access beyond the previous limitations.
Bárcena's measures also include transporting migrants with confirmed appointments to the border, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with their travels. This represents a significant shift in how thousands of migrants experience their journey through Mexico, which has often been fraught with danger. "Investing in the south is the strategy," Bárcena stated, highlighting the importance of addressing migration issues at their root. With a 2.25 billion pesos investment aimed at creating jobs in various Central American countries, the strategy also includes constructing two comprehensive aid centers in Chiapas to better serve the needs of migrants seeking asylum.
- ## Kamala Harris's Evolving Stance on Immigration Vice President Kamala Harris has been actively working to project a strong stance on immigration and border security, despite her previous criticisms of the border wall. Recent television ads highlight her experience as a "border state prosecutor" and her support for the **toughest border security bill** in decades. This bill, which proposed **$650 million** for new border wall construction, has faced challenges in the Senate. Harris's campaign ads juxtapose her current policies with her past remarks, where she labeled the border wall a "pointless" and "medieval vanity project." As she aims to strengthen her image on border issues, Harris must reconcile her present commitments with her past opposition to many of the policies she now supports, including increased border wall construction and stricter asylum regulations. The Biden administration's approach to immigration has seen a shift, with new measures allowing additional border wall construction in Texas and implementing executive actions that restrict asylum claims. Harris has yet to clarify her position on these changes, but her campaign manager has indicated that she would continue to uphold Biden's policies. This evolution in Harris's immigration stance reflects broader challenges faced by the Democratic Party, as immigration remains a significant vulnerability in national polls.
