Mexican President Opposes Trump's Immigration Policies, Vows Support for Deportees
President Claudia Sheinbaum expresses disagreement with Trump’s immigration tactics while promising assistance for deported Mexican nationals.
OTAY MESA, Calif. — As tensions mounted ahead of President Donald Trump's first executive actions on immigration, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made it clear that her administration strongly opposes Trump's immigration policies, particularly the revival of the controversial “Remain in Mexico” program and the "unilateral deportation" of Mexican nationals from the United States.
The momentous day came as border agents patrolled the fences dividing San Diego and Tijuana, preparing for new directives from the incoming U.S. administration. Trump’s inauguration speech focused on toughening immigration laws, promising to reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their claims were processed in the U.S. He also vowed to bolster border security by sending troops and initiating a massive deportation operation.
In response, Sheinbaum and her cabinet officials expressed strong disapproval of the plan. Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico's Secretary for External Relations, described the “Remain in Mexico” policy as “unilateral,” noting that it was a U.S.-imposed measure that did not involve Mexican cooperation.
“We don’t agree with the policy,” de la Fuente said, emphasizing that Mexico would push for a more balanced approach, with an emphasis on supporting asylum seekers in ways that do not solely rely on Mexico. “We can come to some agreements and find a way to operate,” he added, signaling a willingness to engage in dialogue on the issue.
Sheinbaum reiterated the need for asylum seekers to have access to protections that go beyond border regions, suggesting that Mexico would work to provide such opportunities, not only at its borders but also from within its southern territories or through cooperation with other countries.
Additionally, Sheinbaum reaffirmed her support for the CBP One app, a system that allowed migrants to be pre-screened before arriving at the U.S. border. Although the app’s website showed it was no longer operational after Trump’s policy changes, Sheinbaum insisted that such programs could ease tensions on both sides of the border.
Meanwhile, in light of Trump’s pledge for mass deportations, Mexican Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez addressed the nation’s approach to assisting deported individuals. While she stressed that the Mexican government disagreed with the U.S. policies, Rodríguez Velázquez assured that deported Mexicans would be provided with access to social services, including healthcare, transportation back home, and communication support through Mexico’s Social Security Institute.
While immigration policies dominate the political discourse, Sheinbaum also took a moment to counter Trump’s rhetoric regarding the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. Previously, Sheinbaum jokingly suggested that the United States should consider renaming itself "America Mexicana" in light of Trump’s proposal to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
As the U.S. administration begins implementing its new immigration measures, Mexico continues to stand firm in its position, advocating for a more collaborative and humane approach to managing migration and supporting those affected by deportations.