EXCLUSIVE: Mexico comes through for Trump, tackles border crisis when Congress wouldn't

The Washington Times ^ | Thursday, December 5, 2019 | Stephen Dinan

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President Trump pleaded with Congress to do something as illegal immigration across the southwestern border soared this spring.

Republicans seemed willing, but it was a nonstarter for Democrats. Party leaders even accused Mr. Trump of manufacturing the crisis.

So the president turned to Mexico with a combination of negotiations, controls, threats and even an explicit quid pro quo: Do something to stop 4,000 people from crossing Mexican territory each day en route to the U.S. or face crippling tariffs.

Mexican negotiators ran to Washington to make a deal. Mr. Trump didn’t get everything he wanted, but he got enough.

By July, the numbers were dropping. By September, they were in manageable territory and falling.

With additional help from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala — the countries of most of the children and families that made up the surge — the president effectively outsourced the border problem to Mexico and got the Mexicans to do what Congress wouldn’t.

“It is painfully ironic that Mexico has done more than Congress to stem the tide of illegal immigration to our southern border since May,” Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy Homeland Security secretary, told The Washington Times. “Mexico is not perfect by any means, but they’re doing more now than any time in your adult lifetime to partner with us actively to drive the numbers down.”

What changed, analysts say, is the incentive structure.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Republicans seemed willing, but it was a nonstarter for Democrats.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Republicans had the House and the Senate for the first two years of President Trump’s term.
Republicans did not want the border secured or they would have done it.

[TLI]

As several officials put it in interviews with The Times, crossing the border without authorization now comes with real consequences, and that means they have been able to end the “catch and release” policy.

“It still happens in certain situations, but it’s not the rule anymore. And once it ends as the rule, you have illegal immigration drop exponentially,” said Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council.

He said the cartels that control the smuggling trade — and their customers, the migrants — realized the old tricks no longer worked. Once Central American families were no longer caught and released, family, friends and neighbors back home took notice and stayed there.

D. U. H.

Progs silent in public about this, behind closed doors they must be enraged.

President Trump created a workaround to the progs BS.

Again.

.

[Souled_Out]

Extremely Stable Genius!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Republicans did not want the border secured or they would have done it.

Three words:

Paul.

Effing.

Ryan.

[facedown]

Mr. Trump didn’t get everything he wanted, but he got enough.

The Art of the Deal.

[roadcat]

“It is painfully ironic that Mexico has done more than Congress to stem the tide of illegal immigration to our southern border since May,” Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy Homeland Security secretary, told The Washington Times.

"Hey, that's not fair! Mexico is paying for a 'wall' stemming illegal immigration." Did President Trump pull a fast one on Democrats, yet again doing an end-run around Democrat resistance? I like it!

[JBW1949]

Liberal judges stopped a lot of what President Trump wanted o do...

[nikos1121]

POS Paul Ryan end of discussion

[Dogbert41]

“”Republicans did not want the border secured or they would have done it.””

“Three words:

Paul.

Effing.

Ryan.”

DITTO!

[EQAndyBuzz]

And I bet the rats are punishing Mexico for siding with Trump.

[CheneyClone]

Pop goes the weasel!

[cpdiii]

“Paul.

Effing.

Ryan.”

I object to the word “effing” It should really be “bought and sold bastard enemy of my nation.” If I really said what I think, my post would be pulled.

[Lean-Right]

I guess this means Nancy won’t
be taking trips to Mexico with
he entourage any longer. She’d
be undermining the president’s
negotiations.

[EBH]

So the president turned to Mexico with a combination of negotiations, controls, threats and

even an explicit quid pro quo:

Do something to stop 4,000 people from crossing Mexican territory each day en route to the U.S. or face crippling tariffs.

There it is! There it is! Not that it’s a negotiation or anything...every negotiation is some form a qpq.

[gibsonguy]

A lot of people here thought the president backed down when he didn’t declare the cartels terrorist organizations. He cut a deal with Mexico because that’s what he does.