Mexico pledges to send 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to stop asylum seekers, fentanyl

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed Monday to send 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in an eleventh-hour bid to avoid Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on goods imported from her country.

The Mexican National Guard personnel would be stationed along the border in a purported effort to prevent asylum seekers and fentanyl from entering the United States, according to the White House.

For her part, Sheinbaum said the U.S. also agreed to help thwart the trafficking of weapons from its side of the border — although Trump has neglected to mention that part of the deal.

The tariffs proposed last weekend were originally scheduled to go into effect Tuesday. Though the White House said the deal stopped its imposition of the import taxes, the pause is only temporary. The negotiation tactic bought Mexico a month until tariffs could again be ordered to go info effect.

Canada also temporarily avoided 25% tariffs by agreeing to strengthen its border. Although Trump couched his threats against Canada as an effort to stop the flow of fentanyl, only 0.2% of U.S. fentanyl seizures occur at the northern border.

Meanwhile, the White House’s new 10% tariffs on China went into effect Tuesday, prompting that country to hit back with a 15% tax increase on U.S. imports of coal, natural gas, agricultural machinery and pickup trucks. 

Critics argue tariffs on imports from all three countries would harm U.S. consumers and businesses, weakening the economy. Texas consumers would be hit especially hard due to the state’s close business ties with Mexico.

Mexico is the top trading partner for Texas, which relies on its southern neighbor for avocados, citrus, vehicles, car parts, computers, electronics, surgical equipment and a variety of other products.

This isn’t the first time Mexico has dispatched troops to the border to appease Trump. The country took similar action in 2019 during Trump’s first term, that time deploying 15,000 personnel. 

Further suggesting the tariff showdown is more about appearances than substance, Mexico already has thousands of troops stationed at the border at all times.

Activist groups blasted Mexico’s acquiescence with Trump’s attempt to stop border crossings, saying asylum remains protected by international law under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention.

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This article appears in Jan 22 – Feb 4, 2025.