Trump warns Sheinbaum: will double tariffs on Mexico if it does not stop Central American migrants

Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to double tariffs on Mexico if it does not stop Central American migrants seeking to reach the United States amid the euphoria over the Republican president's recent electoral defeat.

A first caravan of about 1,000 migrants arrived in Mexico over the weekend and is advancing through the state of Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala. Another, of about 100, was dispersed by authorities as soon as it entered Mexico.

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Another caravan is scheduled to depart from Honduras on Sunday. Migrants see the opposition's victory over Trump as hope that they might be able to reach the United States and build a life that allows them to send money to their relatives.

"We are starting over!" the president wrote on his social network Truth Social. "Given the apparent defeat of the Republicans in the midterm elections (I WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT) the INVASION of our country is happening again."

"They will not be accepted! MEXICO MUST STOP THEM, NOW, and if it does not, tariffs on Mexico will be IMMEDIATELY DOUBLED," he snapped.

Mexico is the United States' main trading partner, with which it is negotiating new terms for its free trade agreement.

A large portion of the products that the United States imports from Mexico are not subject to tariffs, except for some such as steel and aluminum, which have a customs duty of between 25% and 50%.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that since the Republican tycoon returned to the White House in 2025, "no migrant caravan has reached the northern border."

"We inform the people who are in the caravan that it is very difficult to get into the United States, that if their goal is to reach the United States, well, they are not going to be able to achieve it," Sheinbaum indicated.

"We are looking for ways for them to return to their countries safely or if someone wants to stay in Mexico under certain conditions, in a certain place, they can do so," she added.

"Migrants are being deceived"

Migrant caravans were constant during Trump's first presidency and the subsequent one of Democrat Joe Biden.

But the Republican made closing the southern border to illegal immigration one of the strong points of his second term.

His government boasts of not having released into U.S. territory any immigrant who entered illegally and is waiting for an appointment before immigration judges, as was the case in the previous presidency.

But that campaign, as well as the raids, did not prevent the Republican defeat in the November 3 legislative elections, in which the Democratic opposition regained control of Congress.

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The Trump administration asserts that thanks to its policies, nearly three million undocumented people have already left the United States.

"There are people who deceive migrants and tell them that, for example, the United States election result changed immigration policy, which is false," Sheinbaum stated.

The caravan of 1,000 advanced just about 30 km from Tapachula, the first city after crossing the Mexico-Guatemala border, to Mazatán.

The latest mobilizations did not manage to leave Chiapas. Sheinbaum explained that in the two years she has been in power, about 10 caravans have arrived in Mexico and none reached the border with the United States.

Mexican authorities detained 40 people from the caravan that was dispersed.

The State Department revoked visas or the right to request one for more than 15 people accused of organizing caravans.