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Less than six months after Mexicans elected their first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, Americans reelected Donald Trump, who has pledged to initiate massive deportations of undocumented immigrants to Mexico, regardless of those immigrants’ countries of origin. These deportations would have an immediate impact on northern Mexico’s border cities, which are already grappling with high levels of organized crime. Some estimates suggest there are 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.
Watch the video above as Straight Arrow News contributor Ruben Navarrette reflects on a recent holiday trip with his family to Guadalajara, Mexico. He shares his thoughts on a city in decline and explores how Mexico might address the challenges of a new president — both within its borders and in its most influential neighboring country.
The following is an excerpt from the above video:
That’s Mexico now, as it begins a new chapter with its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum. My timing for the trip was spot on. The U.S.-Mexico relationship is also starting a new chapter, albeit one with a familiar face glaring back at our neighbor from our side of the table, with President-elect Donald Trump threatening to send back millions of Mexican workers who could capsize the Mexican economy and imposing a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico.
Some wonder how Mexico intends to “fight back.” Drawing on a week’s worth of conversations with family, friends and assorted Uber drivers, I’m not sure that many Americans want to fight back. A lot of them aren’t happy with the status quo that existed when Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and U.S. President Joe Biden were running their respective countries. They’re looking for change on a lot of areas, and they think that’s Trump.
Careful gente (people), whatever the neighborhood bully has to offer, you don’t want it or need it. Don’t be fooled. Trump is all about Trump. He doesn’t even care about people in his own country, much less yours.
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