Mexican President Sheinbaum Pledges Support For Citizens Amid Trump's Mass Deportation Plans

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has revealed that the country will receive its citizens, if President-elect Donald Trump decides to go through with his plans for mass deportations, adding that migrants should not be considered "criminals."

Sheinbaum said Thursday that Mexico was working to convince the Trump administration that mass deportations weren't needed, highlighting how important Mexicans were to the U.S.' economy, especially considering the taxes they pay.

"We will receive Mexicans and we have a plan for it, but before that, we will work to demonstrate that they do not have to deport our compatriots who are on the other side of the border," she said Reuters reported. "On the contrary, they even benefit the economy of the United States."

Since taking office in October, Sheinbaum has emphasized that migrants should not be treated as criminals, highlighting the importance of respecting humanitarian rights in migration policies.

The Mexican president said she aimed to maintain a careful balance in her relationship with the incoming U.S. administration, and planned to present a humanistic strategy for managing migration, focusing on addressing its root causes.

Sheinbaum's comments came as Trump promised to carry out mass deportations and enforce strict immigration measures when he takes office on Jan. 20. To achieve this, he might involve various resources, including the U.S. military and overseas diplomats. His vice president J.D. Vance estimated that these efforts could lead to the deportation of up to one million people each year.

Currently, two groups of migrants are traveling through southern Mexico towards the U.S. border. One group began its journey Wednesday, while the other started two weeks ago from the city of Tapachula. Officials have reported that the second group has shrunk from its original size of 3,000 people.

Earlier this week, immigration attorneys shared their concern about how the president-elect's policies will affect migrant children applying for asylum.

Austin-based immigration attorney Jennifer Walker Gates believes children, being extremely vulnerable and politically powerless, face heightened risks under the new administration.

Aside from this, Trump's victory has also sparked concerns among highly skilled workers about what his strict immigration plans could mean for them.