Mexican authorities detained over 5,200 migrants across the country on Tuesday, a significant enforcement action as the U.S. pressures Mexico to curb migration and drug trafficking at its border. The operation involved the Army, National Guard, and state police working alongside migration authorities, the Navy reported.
Many migrants, primarily from Central America, enter Mexico on foot with the goal of reaching the United States. Southern Mexico, where arrivals are heaviest, has seen increased deployment of military and security forces to manage the influx.
President-elect Donald Trump has urged Mexico to intensify its crackdown on migration and the smuggling of synthetic drugs like fentanyl into the United States. Trump has threatened tariffs on Mexico if it fails to act decisively.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently stated that authorities are taking firm measures to address the issue. Last week, she declared that a migrant caravan moving through southern Mexico would not reach the northern border, emphasizing that officials were “tending to” those still traveling.
The detentions are part of Mexico’s broader efforts to address a surge in migration. Between October 1 and December 3, nearly 350,000 migrants were apprehended, according to Mexican officials. Many migrants enter on foot from Central America, with hopes of reaching the U.S. border.
