Mexican Governors Brace for Potential Mass Deportations

Clear Facts

• Mexican border state governors are preparing for potential mass deportations following Donald Trump’s inauguration.
• President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has warned that deportations could begin as early as February.
• Coordination between U.S. and Mexican authorities is being discussed to manage the expected influx of deportees.

In anticipation of Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, governors in Mexico’s northern border states are taking steps to prepare for potential mass deportations. President Claudia Sheinbaum has advised these governors to brace for the possibility of receiving a significant number of migrants expelled from the United States as early as February.

Following a security meeting on December 10 with governors from all 32 Mexican states, those from the border regions have started to strategize for the expected influx. Governor Manolo Jimenez-Salinas of Coahuila has been proactive, meeting with officials from both sides of the border to discuss plans for accommodating returning migrants.

During a gathering in Acapulco earlier in December, President Sheinbaum specifically cautioned the border state governors about the looming threat of mass deportations. “We didn’t speak of a specific strategy of deportations, but rather, that we be ready if they begin in February,” stated Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia.

In a recent meeting hosted by Coahuila Governor Jimenez-Salinas, key figures including Norma Trevino, the Mayor of Piedras Negras, and representatives from the Mexican Army and U.S. Border Patrol, discussed future coordination efforts. This meeting also addressed sensitive cases involving unaccompanied migrant children and other vulnerable groups.

A source within Customs and Border Protection, who requested anonymity, indicated that the situation at the southwest border could change swiftly post-inauguration. “Between the Remain in Mexico program and the returns under Title 42, Mexican border states saw thousands returned daily. Now, they deal with only a trickle,” the source remarked.

The Remain in Mexico program, initiated in January 2019, saw nearly 70,000 migrants returned to Mexico, where they awaited asylum hearings. This placed a significant burden on local authorities to provide necessary resources throughout the process.

Title 42, a COVID-19 Emergency Removal Authority, facilitated the return of nearly 25,000 migrants during the initial months of the pandemic. Although this authority is unlikely to be reinstated without another pandemic, the memory of large-scale deportations remains fresh for Mexican officials. “It’s wise for everyone to get ready in Mexico for what is coming,” the source stressed.

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