Mexico Will Not Be Subordinate to US on Immigration Policies, President Says

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador gestures during a press conference in Mexico City on Jan. 20, 2023. Alfredo Estrella/AFP via Getty Images

In a March 24 interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador addressed claims by U.S. politicians regarding Mexico’s stance on immigration policies and emphasized Mexico’s sovereignty in its dealings with the United States.

His response comes in the wake of comments by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in February, advocating the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which the Mexican president firmly opposes.

At the time, Mr. Johnson said: “The answer is simple, you reinstate Remain in Mexico. I told the President that at The White House again [and he] said he couldn’t do it. I said that’s not true ... Mr. President, we’re the United States, Mexico will do what we say.”

Mr. López Obrador took particular issue with Mr. Johnson’s assertion that Mexico would bend to the will of the United States.

“[Mr. Johnson is] disrespectful,” the president said in the interview. “We are an independent country. Free. Sovereign. We are not a colony. We are not a protectorate of any foreign country. We have a very good relationship with the government of the United States, but not one of subordination.”

The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Johnson’s office for comment but didn’t hear back before publication time.

Sovereignty and Independence

The Mexican president countered the presumption that Mexico would simply comply with U.S. policies. Instead, he underscored the importance of a relationship built on mutual respect and equality, sentiments that he noted are shared in his conversations with President Joe Biden.

Mr. López Obrador highlighted that, unlike Mr. Johnson in his recent assertions, President Biden has shown respect for Mexico’s sovereignty. He also stated that former President Donald Trump also had respect in his dealings with Mexico.

“President Trump, like President Biden, has been very respectful. Both of them,” he said. “We have had differences, but we have been able to put first the general interest of both peoples, the people of the United States and the people of Mexico.”

He said this respect is crucial as both nations navigate complex immigration issues and work toward sustainable solutions.

Relationship With Trump

Mexico’s president also addressed President Trump’s 2024 campaign trail comments related to increasing physical border barriers and the possibility of closing the border.

Mr. López Obrador said he didn’t believe that President Trump would actually close the border because of the possible economic ramifications.

“You would not be able to buy inexpensive cars if the border is closed,” Mr. López Obrador said. “That is, you would have to pay $10,000, $15,000 more for a car. There are factories in Mexico and there are factories in the United States that are fundamental for all the consumers in the United States and all the consumers in Mexico.”

In response to a question about building more border walls, he said, “It doesn’t work.”

Mr. López Obrador said he told President Trump the same thing when discussing the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that they generally had an agreement not to speak about the wall because they “were not going to agree.”

He said he told the former U.S. president he was going to send him “some videos of tunnels from Tijuana up to San Diego, that passed right under U.S. Customs.” President Trump “stayed quiet” then started laughing and said, “I can’t win with you,” according to the Mexican president.

Illegal Immigration and Root Causes

Mr. López Obrador criticized the approach of some U.S. politicians who blame Mexico for illegal immigration challenges instead of addressing root causes or seeking collaborative solutions.

His critique extended to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, whom he accused of using the border issue for political gain.

The Mexican president advocated addressing the underlying factors of migration, such as economic inequality and instability in Latin American countries.

Economic Ties and Future Relations

Despite disagreements over immigration policies, Mr. López Obrador expressed a desire to maintain positive economic relations with the United States, highlighting the mutual benefits of such a partnership.

He pointed out the economic interdependence between the two countries, emphasizing that any disruptions, such as closing the border, would have significant economic repercussions.

Cartels and Drug Trafficking

The interview also touched on Mr. López Obrador’s strategies for dealing with drug cartels and the trafficking of narcotics, particularly fentanyl.

The Mexican president defended his administration’s efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking through social programs aimed at preventing youth from joining cartels.

He refuted claims by the U.S. Department of State that Mexican cartels are the primary producers of most of the fentanyl entering the United States, stating that those claims were incorrect.

“Fentanyl is produced in the United States, in Canada, and in Mexico,” he said. “And the chemical precursors come from Asia. You know why we don’t have the drug consumption that you have in the United States? Because we have customs, traditions, and we don’t have the problem of the disintegration of the family.”

The interviewer mentioned that Mexico did have drug users, and the president agreed but said there was “very little” drug use in the country.

Legacy and Democratic Processes

As Mr. López Obrador approaches the end of his term with presidential elections in June, he reflected on his legacy, particularly regarding his efforts to address corruption and improve Mexico’s economic and social landscape.

He denied allegations of undermining democracy or failing to address the violence and corruption plaguing the country, pointing to a decrease in homicide rates during his presidency.

The interview with Mr. López Obrador on “60 Minutes” offered insight into Mexico’s stance on immigration policies, bilateral relations with the United States, and the broader challenges facing the region.

His policies and those of his predecessor will likely be scrutinized more as illegal immigration becomes a key issue in the U.S. presidential elections this fall.