Mexican President Proposes Regional Summit To Discuss Trump's Deportation Promises

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has proposed a meeting of Latin American and Caribbean foreign ministers in January to address incoming challenges set to ensue after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to the presidency.

Sheinbaum discussed the proposal with Honduran counterpart Xiomara Castro, who currently leads the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (ECLAC), emphasizing the need for cooperation among Latin American nations to address migration by tackling its root causes, namely poor economic and social landscapes across the region.

She reiterated Mexico's commitment to solidarity with its neighbors despite domestic criticism. "We will always support those in need, as this aligns with our foreign policy and the humanistic principles we uphold," Sheinbaum stated during a press conference.

Sheinbaum also addressed concerns regarding Trump's promise of mass deportations, which pose significant implications for Mexico, as nearly half of the 11 million undocumented individuals in the U.S. are of Mexican origin. She highlighted the economic impact of remittances from Mexicans abroad, which accounted for an estimated $65 billion in 2024, nearly 4% of Mexico's GDP.

Sheinbaum has urged the U.S. to repatriate other migrants to their countries of origin rather than sending them en masse to Mexico to mitigate the expected burden on they country.

"(The Foreign Minister) Will explain himself but he's talking to several countries, especially in Central America, and we'll always be close to them, because even though we have a trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada, we'll always be close to Latin America," Sheinbaum said in a press conference on December 26.

Sheinbaum expressed optimism about maintaining a cooperative relationship with Trump's administration, citing the positive rapport between Trump and López Obrador as a precedent for productive bilateral ties. "We will do everything possible to ensure good relations and cooperation with President Trump," Sheinbaum said, adding that specific agreements with the U.S. would be pursued once the new administration takes office.

As for Castro, on Wednesday she expressed concern over the upcoming administration's potential immigration policies:

"Faced with a hostile attitude of mass expulsion of our brothers and sisters, we would have to consider a change in our cooperation policies with the United States, especially in the military field"