The “agreement” to avoid the tariffs was bogus, as it appears that as Democrats predicted, Trump caved on the tariffs.
The tariff agreement with Mexico is a sham
Trump tweeted that he had reached an agreement on the tariffs with Mexico:
….stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States. Details of the agreement will be released shortly by the State Department. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2019
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Here are the “details” from the State Department on the agreement:
Mexican Enforcement Surge
Mexico will take unprecedented steps to increase enforcement to curb irregular migration, to include the deployment of its National Guard throughout Mexico, giving priority to its southern border. Mexico is also taking decisive action to dismantle human smuggling and trafficking organizations as well as their illicit financial and transportation networks. Additionally, the United States and Mexico commit to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including information sharing and coordinated actions to better protect and secure our common border.
Migrant Protection Protocols
The United States will immediately expand the implementation of the existing Migrant Protection Protocols across its entire Southern Border. This means that those crossing the U.S. Southern Border to seek asylum will be rapidly returned to Mexico where they may await the adjudication of their asylum claims.
In response, Mexico will authorize the entrance of all of those individuals for humanitarian reasons, in compliance with its international obligations, while they await the adjudication of their asylum claims. Mexico will also offer jobs, healthcare and education according to its principles.
The United States commits to work to accelerate the adjudication of asylum claims and to conclude removal proceedings as expeditiously as possible.
Further Actions
Both parties also agree that, in the event the measures adopted do not have the expected results, they will take further actions. Therefore, the United States and Mexico will continue their discussions on the terms of additional understandings to address irregular migrant flows and asylum issues, to be completed and announced within 90 days, if necessary.
The Agreement With Mexico Is BS
The agreement with Mexico contains no details. It contains no policy plans or timetable for implementation. The “agreement” is a couple of vague promises from Mexico to do some things that may not ever really have to do. Trump realized that the tariffs on Mexico would be a disaster, but after his failed trip to the UK, he needed to look like he won something.
Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer predicted that Trump would wimp out on the tariffs. Schumer said on the Senate floor on June 4, “Now, frankly, I don’t believe that President Trump will actually go through with the tariffs. When he doesn’t, we should be ready to proceed to these commonsense policies instead.”
Schumer was right. Trump chickened out, and the US still has no real immigration policy, as Donald Trump is more interested in pretending to win than governing.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
