Biden Administration Urges Mexican Leaders to Curb Border Crossings

Senior US officials are scheduled to travel to Mexico on Wednesday to seek further assistance from their counterparts in reducing border crossings, as President Joe Biden faces mounting scrutiny over the management of the US southern border.

Immigration has proven to be a political vulnerability for Biden, with Republicans and some members of his own party fiercely criticizing the situation at the US-Mexico border. This month, the issue took center stage in the president's foreign policy agenda, as the White House pushed for aid to Ukraine and Israel amid their respective war efforts. The lack of consensus on border policy changes ultimately prevented Biden from securing billions of dollars in funds for Ukraine, Israel, and the border before the end of the year.

Prior to the meeting on Wednesday, Homeland Security officials have deliberated various methods in which Mexico can assist in reducing the number of migrants at the US border. These requests include facilitating the movement of migrants to the south, regulating the railways that are utilized by migrants traveling north, and offering incentives such as visas to discourage border crossings. The meeting will be attended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall, marking the end of a year that began with migration being a prominent issue.

In Mexico City, during the North American Leaders Summit in January, Biden convened with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss migratory flows in the region. Despite a series of measures to deter irregular migration, the record number of migrants crossing the Western hemisphere continues to be a significant challenge for both the US and Mexico almost a year later.

Migration patterns can fluctuate, but there has been a recent increase in migrants fleeing worsening conditions in their home countries, straining federal and state resources. Former and current Homeland Security officials have issued warnings that the border is approaching a critical juncture.

Amid the escalating situation at the US southern border, Biden reached out to his Mexican counterpart last week. The two leaders agreed that immediate enforcement actions were necessary to address the issue and allow for the reopening of key ports of entry that had been closed to redirect personnel towards migrant processing.

The United States has traditionally relied on Mexico to reduce the influx of migrants traveling to the US southern border. However, Mexico also experiences similar challenges as the large number of migrants entering the country strains its resources.

According to Earl Anthony Wayne, a former US ambassador to Mexico and public policy fellow at the Wilson Center, "Mexico still has limited capacity."

Thousands of migrants departed from Tapachula in southern Mexico on Sunday, embarking on a lengthy journey by foot towards the United States. Mexican officials are now faced with the challenge of managing this influx.

A sizable portion of the migrants hail from Central and South America, including the Caribbean, Cuba, and Haiti. Caravans, such as the one that recently set out, frequently disperse during the lengthy journey to the US southern border, making it uncertain how many migrants will ultimately reach their destination. The influx of migrants has posed challenges for US authorities, who are grappling with insufficient detention space and repatriation flights for those who do not meet the criteria for asylum.

More than 11,000 migrants are currently waiting in shelters and camps in northern Mexico in hopes of entering the United States through legal pathways established by the Biden administration, such as the CBP One app, which automates scheduling appointments to claim asylum with border authorities, according to community leaders. CNN's Rosa Flores contributed to this report.