This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/us/politics/trump-mexico.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump’s Demand for an End to Illegal Immigration Hangs Over Mexico Talks Mexico and the U.S. Have Made Progress Toward Averting Tariffs
(about 5 hours later)
The urgent talks to avert President Trump’s threat of tariffs on Mexico are running into a serious obstacle: The president’s demand that in return Mexico must promise to put a complete stop to illegal immigration into the United States. WASHINGTON — Mexico and the United States have made significant progress in discussions that could forestall President Trump from following through on his threat of imposing tariffs on all Mexican imports, senior officials from both countries said Thursday.
Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly demanded that Mexico end all illegal immigration into the United States, has not yet given his approval of the direction of the talks and no deal has been reached, the officials said. But they said Mexico and Guatemala have agreed to consider significant changes in asylum laws across the region that would allow the United States to reject requests for protection from many people fleeing persecution.
The arrangement being discussed would require migrants to seek asylum in the first safe country they enter. It would mean that people from Guatemala who want refuge in the United States could be quickly sent to Mexico instead, while those fleeing El Salvador and Honduras who try to enter the United States could be turned away and sent instead to Guatemala.
Mexican negotiators have also pledged to send 6,000 troops to Mexico’s border with Guatemala, the entry point for a recent surge of migrants who have made their way through Mexico to the United States border. The Washington Post first reported on Thursday the outlines of a possible deal between the United States and Mexico.
A Mexican official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks are continuing and private, cautioned that there had been no agreement reached on the asylum discussions.
If a deal is reached, Mexico would also allow an expansion of an American program in which those seeking asylum in the United States are required to wait in Mexico while their legal cases proceed. About 8,000 migrants are currently waiting in Mexico, but under the agreement, that number could grow.
Officials from both countries have been talking for several days about steps that Mexico could take to satisfy Mr. Trump’s angry demand for an end to illegal immigration into the United States across the southwest border.
On Wednesday, Mexican offers to beef up enforcement to prevent illegal immigration had been declared insufficient by Vice President Mike Pence, an administration official said. Mr. Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the Mexicans to consider the asylum changes, as well.
By Thursday, Mexican officials had indicated a willingness to consider the asylum changes, the administration official said, though he cautioned that lawyers for the countries involved were still scheduled to meet throughout the day and into the evening to see if an agreement could be reached.
It remains unclear whether an agreement focused on beefed-up enforcement and changes to the region’s asylum laws would reduce the flow of migrants enough for Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly demanded that Mexico put a complete stop to illegal immigration into the United States.
In a series of tweets and remarks over the past week, Mr. Trump vowed to impose a series of escalating tariffs on Mexican imports on Monday unless the country’s officials take actions that would end, in particular, the surge of migrants from Central America pressing to cross the border, something he has insisted the Mexicans could solve “in one day if they so desired.”In a series of tweets and remarks over the past week, Mr. Trump vowed to impose a series of escalating tariffs on Mexican imports on Monday unless the country’s officials take actions that would end, in particular, the surge of migrants from Central America pressing to cross the border, something he has insisted the Mexicans could solve “in one day if they so desired.”
That demand from Mr. Trump loomed over Wednesday’s talks between Marcelo Ebrard, the Mexican foreign minister, Vice President Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, according to a senior administration official familiar with the discussions in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. That demand from Mr. Trump loomed over Wednesday’s talks between Marcelo Ebrard, the Mexican foreign minister, Mr. Pence and Mr. Pompeo, according to a senior administration official familiar with the discussions in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.
But diplomats on both sides of the border and immigration experts say the demand is fanciful thinking. While most agree that Mexico could step up enforcement and provide more humanitarian relief to migrants, they say there is nothing Mexico could do to completely stop all immigration into the United States. But diplomats on both sides of the border and immigration experts say president’s demand for a total end to illegal immigration is fanciful thinking. While most agree that Mexico could step up enforcement and provide more humanitarian relief to migrants, they say there is nothing Mexico could do to completely stop all illegal immigration into the United States.
“It shows a basic misunderstanding about the patterns of migration,” said Kevin Appleby, a veteran of Washington’s immigration wars over two decades. “The Mexican government could take some steps. But there are going to be ways that migrants get to our border regardless of what the Mexicans do.”“It shows a basic misunderstanding about the patterns of migration,” said Kevin Appleby, a veteran of Washington’s immigration wars over two decades. “The Mexican government could take some steps. But there are going to be ways that migrants get to our border regardless of what the Mexicans do.”
Hoping to mollify Mr. Trump, Mr. Ebrard said during Wednesday’s meeting that his government was willing to step up enforcement at the border between Mexico and Guatemala, where many of the Central American migrants begin their journey through Mexico to the United States border.Hoping to mollify Mr. Trump, Mr. Ebrard said during Wednesday’s meeting that his government was willing to step up enforcement at the border between Mexico and Guatemala, where many of the Central American migrants begin their journey through Mexico to the United States border.
He also told Mr. Pence and Mr. Pompeo that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico is committed to cracking down on transnational gangs who make money by regularly trafficking migrants through Mexico, according to the American official. Mr. Ebrard also promised that the Mexican government would offer asylum to thousands of Central American migrants who might otherwise seek protection in the United States.He also told Mr. Pence and Mr. Pompeo that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico is committed to cracking down on transnational gangs who make money by regularly trafficking migrants through Mexico, according to the American official. Mr. Ebrard also promised that the Mexican government would offer asylum to thousands of Central American migrants who might otherwise seek protection in the United States.
Whatever the potential impact of the Mexican proposals, Mr. Pence and the other American officials rejected them as likely to curtail illegal immigration only at the margins — and so did not meet the president’s demands.Whatever the potential impact of the Mexican proposals, Mr. Pence and the other American officials rejected them as likely to curtail illegal immigration only at the margins — and so did not meet the president’s demands.
The Americans told their Mexican counterparts that the president was insisting on wholesale changes to address the severity of the problem at the border. Among the changes they pushed for on Wednesday was Mexico’s willingness to adopt a so-called “safe third country” treaty. Such an agreement would require Mexico to allow any migrant from Central America or elsewhere to apply for asylum in Mexico rather than continuing on to the United States.The Americans told their Mexican counterparts that the president was insisting on wholesale changes to address the severity of the problem at the border. Among the changes they pushed for on Wednesday was Mexico’s willingness to adopt a so-called “safe third country” treaty. Such an agreement would require Mexico to allow any migrant from Central America or elsewhere to apply for asylum in Mexico rather than continuing on to the United States.
If such a treaty were signed, the United States could change its own asylum laws to prohibit anyone who has not requested asylum in Mexico from making the same request in the United States. Officials believe that could significantly reduce the number of migrants who seek refuge in the United States.If such a treaty were signed, the United States could change its own asylum laws to prohibit anyone who has not requested asylum in Mexico from making the same request in the United States. Officials believe that could significantly reduce the number of migrants who seek refuge in the United States.
But Mexico has been firmly opposed to a “safe third country” treaty for years, believing that it would make Mexico the country of last resort for migrants and refugees throughout the entire hemisphere. Mr. Ebrard reiterated his country’s staunch opposition to the idea earlier in the week.But Mexico has been firmly opposed to a “safe third country” treaty for years, believing that it would make Mexico the country of last resort for migrants and refugees throughout the entire hemisphere. Mr. Ebrard reiterated his country’s staunch opposition to the idea earlier in the week.
The disagreement — and Mr. Trump’s insistence on actions that could end all illegal immigration — have dimmed hopes for an immediate breakthrough before Monday’s tariff deadline.The disagreement — and Mr. Trump’s insistence on actions that could end all illegal immigration — have dimmed hopes for an immediate breakthrough before Monday’s tariff deadline.
Talks between Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, and lawyers for the Mexican government were scheduled to take place at the White House on Thursday. The administration official said the lawyers were expected to discuss the legal issues surrounding a “safe third country” treaty. But Thursday’s discussions, including talks between Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, and lawyers for the Mexican government about changes to the asylum laws, appear to have increased hopes that the countries can reach an agreement in time to prevent the tariffs from being imposed.
Diplomats for Mexico and the United States are also scheduled to meet at the State Department. But officials stressed that Mr. Trump would be the one to decide whether the Mexican government was willing to do enough to escape the tariffs. The president is scheduled to return to Washington from Europe on Friday. Diplomats for Mexico and the United States are met Thursday at the State Department. But officials stressed that Mr. Trump would be the one to decide whether the Mexican government was willing to do enough to escape the tariffs. The president is scheduled to return to Washington from Europe on Friday.