Mexico City (Reuters) – Mexican authorities arrested more than 5,200 immigrants on Tuesday in a massive operation across the country, which is under pressure from the United States government to prevent their arrival at the border between the two countries.
US President-elect Donald Trump asked Mexico to intensify efforts to prevent immigrants and synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, from entering its territory, threatening to increase taxes against the trading partner.
From October 1st to December 3rd, Mexican authorities have already detained almost 350,000 immigrants, according to information from the Navy this Wednesday.
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said last week that a recent caravan of migrants traveling from the south to the north of the country would not reach their destination as immigration authorities were “taking care” of those who remained in the nation.
Tuesday’s arrests were made by the Army, National Guard and police, the Navy said. The Armed Forces have increasingly assumed public security responsibilities, especially in the south of the country, where immigrants arrive on foot from Central America.
