Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in an interview with the 60 Minutes programme on Sunday that unless the United States complies with Latin American countries’ requests for help, the massive flow of migrants will continue.
In January, Obrador laid out a series of demands that Washington must meet to stem the flow of migrants to the border, ranging from sending $20 billion a year in aid to Latin American countries to granting some amnesty to illegal immigrant workers in the US.
At President Biden’s request, Mexico has taken some measures at the state level to curb mass migration, resulting in a drop in the number of people crossing the border, but the number of migrants began rising again in February, and border officials expect another surge in the spring. “60 Minutes” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi asked Obrador:
Everybody thinks you have the power in this moment to slow down migration. Do you plan to?
A translator interpreted Obrador’s response from Spanish:
We do, and want to continue doing it. But we do want for the root causes to be attended to, for them to be seriously looked at.
Alfonsi pointed to Obrador’s demands for the US to send $20 billion a year to Latin American countries, lift sanctions on Venezuela, end the Cuban embargo and legalise millions of Mexicans living in the US. She also asked:
If they don’t do the things that you’ve said need to be done, then what?
Obrador responded:
The flow of migrants will continue.
Sharyn Alfonsi said:
Your critics have said what you’re doing, what you’re asking for to help secure the border, is diplomatic blackmail. What do you say?
Obrador answered:
I’m speaking frankly. We have to say things as they are. And I always say what I feel, I always say what I think.
The interviewer went on to ask, “If they don’t do those things, will you continue to help to secure the border?” Obrador replied:
Yes, because our relationship is very important. It is fundamental.
Earlier, Alfonsi said that while immigration, the border and the economy are key issues in the 2024 election, “the person who can tip the scales in favour of either candidate is another president [Obrador].”
