Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is focusing on immigration, trade and the fentanyl crisis as he enters the final six months of his presidency. In an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” López Obrador discussed his ongoing influence on the future of U.S.-Mexico relations and his vision for the coming months.
After a record-breaking influx of 250,000 migrants at the U.S. southern border, President Joe Biden sought López Obrador’s assistance. Their cooperation led to a significant 50% decrease in migrant crossings. However, López Obrador warns that the flow of migrants will persist unless the U.S. addresses the root causes.
“We were more careful about our southern border,” López Obrador said. “We spoke with the presidents of Central America, with the president of Venezuela, and with the president of Cuba. We asked them for help in curbing the flow of migrants. However, that is a short-term solution, not a long-term one.”
López Obrador’s proposed solution includes the U.S. sending $20 billion a year to Latin America and the Caribbean to address migration causes, lifting sanctions on Venezuela, ending the Cuban embargo, and legalizing law-abiding Mexicans living in the U.S.
López Obrador also discussed his interactions with U.S. Presidents Trump and Biden.
Despite Trump’s claims about building a wall, López Obrador believes such measures are ineffective and emphasized the mutual benefits of cooperation through agreements like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade pact spearheaded by the Trump administration to replace NAFTA.
To reduce violence in Mexico, López Obrador disbanded the federal police and established a National Guard for public security. He also invested millions in job creation for youth, aiming to reduce cartel influence. Since these changes, the Mexican government reported a near 20% decrease in homicides.
Despite Transparency International noting no progress in Mexico’s corruption levels, López Obrador credits his popularity to his government’s focus on social programs and fighting corruption.
According to CBS, López Obrador plans to retire from politics after his term ends. With the country’s elections approaching in June, his protégée — Claudia Sheinbaum — already holds a significant lead in the races.
