Mexico is ready to receive its citizens living in the United States if President-elect Donald Trump enacts his deportation promises but maintains that it will not act as a "safe third country" for migrants from other nations.
President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration "is prepared to work in coordination with federal, state, and local authorities in response to potential mass deportations," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement in response to questions from Bloomberg News.
According to Bloomberg, Trump's transition team has contacted the governments of Mexico and El Salvador through informal channels regarding the possibility of taking in some of the millions of undocumented migrants slated for deportation under his plan. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that representatives from the two Latin American governments have engaged in detailed discussions with members of Trump's team, including some conducted through intermediaries such as businesspeople.
The incoming administration aims to establish broad agreements to ensure deportation procedures can begin promptly after Trump assumes office.
One significant challenge will be securing cooperation from nations with strained relationships with the U.S., such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, or Cuba, as these countries often refuse to accept deportation flights.
Mexico, however, reiterated through its Foreign Affairs Ministry that it "will not be a safe third country" for non-Mexican migrants, reaffirming its stance from Trump’s first presidency.
In 2019, then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rejected a proposal that would have required Central American migrants to seek asylum in Mexico rather than waiting to reach the U.S.
“We reaffirm the responsibility and obligation of the Mexican State to our compatriots, ensuring they can trust they will be welcomed with the dignity they deserve as we face current and future challenges,” the ministry said.
