Mexican Troops Sent to U.S. Border to Ease Trump’s Tariff Threats
CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico – In response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo agreed to send 10,000 troops to the U.S. border.
Sheinbaum Pardo, who has over 280,000 troops under her command, made this decision quickly. Her forces are already handling security issues across the country, including fighting drug trafficking and controlling illegal migration—two of Trump’s main concerns.
This is not the first time Mexico has used military deployment as a bargaining tool with the U.S. In 2019, when Trump made similar threats, then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent National Guard troops to the border to ease tensions. Sheinbaum Pardo followed the same strategy, offering to move 3.5% of her troops to the northern border, where they were already conducting enforcement operations.
Troops on the Move
By Tuesday, Mexico confirmed that 7,000 troops were already heading north. They were being redeployed from central and southern states to reinforce security in 14 cities along the U.S.-Mexico border, stretching from Tijuana to Matamoros.
According to Samuel Storr, a security researcher in Mexico City, the National Guard’s role is flexible, allowing the government to make large public announcements like this one. "It serves as performative foreign policy," he explained.
While some see the deployment as a strong response to U.S. demands, others question its effectiveness. The National Guard has been found to make fewer arrests and seize fewer drugs compared to other Mexican enforcement agencies. Critics argue that shifting troops to the border might weaken Mexico’s ability to combat drug cartels elsewhere.
Fighting Fentanyl and Migration
Mexico's government insists the move is about more than just politics. Troops have been sent specifically to combat the trafficking of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has fueled the drug crisis in the U.S.
Jose Luis Santo, a National Guard coordinator in Ciudad Juárez, confirmed their mission: "We are here to stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States."
This deployment is part of a broader effort. In her first months in office, Sheinbaum Pardo claimed her administration had seized over 40 tons of drugs, including 20 million fentanyl doses. Meanwhile, U.S. officials reported a 21% drop in fentanyl seizures at the border last year.
Despite these efforts, most fentanyl still enters the U.S. through legal ports of entry, often smuggled by U.S. citizens rather than illegal migrants.
The Economic Stakes
Trump’s tariff threats have alarmed Mexican officials and economists alike. Mexico is the U.S.'s largest trading partner, and tariffs could raise prices on everyday goods like avocados, cars, and household appliances. As stock markets reacted negatively to the news, experts warned that American consumers would ultimately pay the price.
For now, Mexico has secured a 30-day pause on the tariffs while officials from both countries negotiate a long-term agreement. However, migration remains a key issue in these discussions.
Migration at Record Lows
Interestingly, the troop deployment comes at a time when migration levels are already declining. In El Paso, Texas—one of the busiest border crossings—Border Patrol recorded only 99 migrant encounters on Monday, a sharp drop from the peak of 2,700 per day two years ago.
Shelters in Ciudad Juárez, once overflowing with migrants, are now operating at just 35% capacity. Many migrants have been stranded after their appointments with U.S. immigration officials were canceled on Trump’s inauguration day.
Despite the challenges, shelter director Juan Fierro says most migrants are determined to find a way across the border. "It keeps getting harder," he said, "but their desire to reach the U.S. is stronger than the risks."
