The new immigration deal between the U.S. and Mexico is reportedly not so new
President Trump on Saturday praised the United States' "new" deal with Mexico, in which the latter country agreed to tighten measures in an effort to curb the influx of migrants into the U.S. But a new report from The New York Times raises questions about just how new the agreement really is.
Many of the actions agreed to in Friday's immigration deal, which caused Trump to back off his escalating tariff threats against the U.S.' southern neighbor, were actually negotiated months before Trump ever promised to levy taxes on Mexican goods, officials from both countries familiar with the talks told the Times.
Trump reportedly accepted the existing agreements — allegedly previously agreed to under the leadership of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen — after the round of negotiations sparked by his tariff threats lasted several days. The Mexican government had reportedly already pledged to deploy the National Guard to its southern border to police migration in March, though they did increase the amount of troops in the more recent negotiations.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The other key component of Friday's deal — the expansion of a program that would keep those seeking asylum in the U.S. in Mexico while they await the results of their cases — was reportedly established in December, leaving many, reportedly including Trump, skeptical about the outcome of Friday's deal. Read more at The New York Times.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Israel concedes it may not be able to destroy Hamas
Speed Read Despite five months of war in Gaza, Israeli intelligence officials admit the militant group eludes them
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US-Israel rift widens after UN cease-fire resolution
Speed Read The U.S. declined to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a two-week "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New Jersey first lady exits race to replace Menendez
Speed Read Tammy Murphy dropping out paves the way for Rep. Andy Kim to become the state's next senator
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia blames Ukraine for deadly ISIS Moscow attack
Speed Read Putin has ignored the Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the concert hall shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump-RNC pact puts Trump legal bills ahead of GOP
Speed Read The former president has struck a deal with the Republican National Committee to put donations toward his legal bills
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Vietnam president resigns amid scandal
Speed Read Vietnam loses its second president in two years as Vo Van Thuong steps down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published