Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 13 September 2019
Mexico says it disagrees with US Supreme Court order

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN that it had reduced the
Associated Press flow of migrants arriving at
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi- its northern border by 56%
can Foreign Secretary Mar- in three months, and it has
celo Ebrard said Thursday said that it’s beginning to
that Mexico’s government invest in the Central Ameri-
doesn’t agree with an “as- can countries responsible
tonishing” U.S. Supreme for the majority of the mi-
Court order that would grants.
block migrants from coun- But leftist López Obrador’s
tries other than Mexico and increasingly hardline im-
Canada from applying for migration policies have at-
asylum at U.S. borders. tracted criticism at home
Speaking at President An- and abroad.
drés Manuel López Ob- United Nations High Com-
rador’s daily news con- missioner for Human Rights
ference, Ebrard said that Michelle Bachelet said this
Mexico has a different poli- week she was concerned
cy when it comes to asylum that immigration policies
seekers and would never implemented in Mexico,
implement such a rule. the U.S. and some Central
“Our policy of refuge, of American countries “are
asylum is a tradition in Mex- putting migrants at height-
ico,” he said. In this April 29, 2019 file photo, Cuban migrants are escorted by Mexican immigration officials in ened risk of human rights
“The United States has a Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, as they cross the Paso del Norte International bridge to be processed as violations and abuses.”
very hardline immigration asylum seekers on the U.S. side of the border. Asked about her comments
policy,” Ebrard continued. Associated Press Thursday, Ebrard said Mexi-
“The court’s decision is as- try agreement with the U.S. Mexico and Canada. by threatening crippling co also had concerns and
tonishing in the impact that that would require migrants “There are no deep differ- tariffs on all Mexican im- requested a meeting with
it is going to have.” to request asylum there first, ences, there’s no discrep- ports. her office to exchange in-
Ebrard declined to explain but the court’s decision ap- ancy, nothing that could Following Trump’s threat, formation.
that impact, saying that pears to have unilaterally lead them to take mea- Mexico cracked down on The foreign minister also
he had various meetings brought about the same sures or apply measures migrants crossing the coun- explained that in return for
scheduled Thursday to try result. that affect the economy, try, deployed the National its work on immigration,
to evaluate what effects On Thursday, López Ob- the development of our Guard to the southern and Mexico has asked the U.S.
the court’s decision will rador said that he spoke country,” López Obrador northern borders, and tried government to help stem
have on Mexico. But the by phone with President said. “On the contrary, to contain migrants to the the tide of guns flowing into
ruling is likely to drive more Donald Trump a day prior, there’s a very favorable southern part of the coun- Mexico. The country cur-
Central American migrants noting the U.S. president environment for the United try. rently has more murders
to try to illegally enter the recognized Mexico’s ef- States Congress... unbeat- It also accepted the ex- than at any point in at least
U.S. with the help of smug- forts and relations between able conditions to approve pansion of the “Remain the past 20 years.
glers or move them to ap- the two countries were very the free trade treaty.” in Mexico” policy, under Ebrard said that 70% of
ply for asylum in Mexico, good. His conciliatory approach which the U.S. has sent the crimes committed with
which is already swamped He also said things were contrasts sharply with a more than 40,000 asylum guns in Mexico between
with applications. looking better for the ratifi- tack taken earlier this year applicants back across the January and June involved
Mexico has long resisted a cation of a new free trade by Trump, who tied immi- border to wait in Mexico. guns purchased in the
so-called safe third coun- agreement between U.S., gration to economic policy Mexico announced Friday U.S.q

El Salvador sends police, soldiers to patrol border

Associated Press tem of border patrols,” Ri- has been pressing Central
LA HACHADURA, El Salva- vas said. “This will be a stra- American governments for.
dor (AP) — El Salvador is tegic arm that we will wield Cesar Ríos, of the non-
deploying 800 police and to combat transnational governmental group Sal-
soldiers to patrol blind spots crime.” The deployment vadoran Immigration Insti-
along its borders where mi- began in La Hachadura tute, said that Salvadorans
grant smugglers and trans- along the country’s border carrying their documents
national criminals operate. with Guatemala, 78 miles will continue to be allowed
Justice and Public Safety west (126 kilometers) of the to leave the country with-
Minister Rogelio Rivas said capital, and is part of an out restrictions. A regional
Thursday that the contin- agreement between the agreement known as CA-4,
gent will be joined by about Salvadoran government signed in 2006 by Guate-
300 immigration agents. It and acting U.S. Homeland mala, El Salvador, Hondu-
will target criminal struc- Security Secretary Kevin ras and Nicaragua, allows
tures that traffic people, in McAleenan to slow the citizens of those countries
addition to violent groups flow of migrants trying to to move between them
who force Salvadorans to An El Salvadoran national police agent looks out over La Paz reach the United States. without restrictions and
flee the country. River on the border with Guatemala in La Hachadura, El Sal- Rivas said that since he took only carrying their national
“We are determined to im- vador, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, as part of a deployment of 800 his position June 1, authori- identity documents. But
prove public safety, and police and soldiers to patrol blind spots along its borders where ties have captured 159 mi- passports are required for
that’s why we’ve come migrant smugglers and transnational criminals operate. grant smugglers. That’s the children to protect against
here to launch our new sys- Associated Press sort of action Washington human trafficking.q