Speaker Mike Johnson has issued a scathing response to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s recent interview on 60 Minutes, where he made controversial proposals regarding border security and immigration.
During the interview, President López Obrador suggested that to secure the border, the United States should provide $20 billion annually to support other countries’ economies, lift sanctions on Venezuela, end the Cuban embargo, and grant citizenship to millions of illegal aliens from Mexico residing in the U.S. He also defended his refusal to take action against Mexican cartels and criticized Speaker Johnson’s stance on pressuring the Mexican government to secure the border.
In response, Speaker Johnson labeled President López Obrador’s proposals as “absurd,” emphasizing that they would only exacerbate regional instability and fuel illegal immigration. He warned against the dangers of handing over the security of the Western Hemisphere to regimes in Cuba and Venezuela, highlighting the risks posed by mass amnesty in strengthening the operations of Mexican cartels involved in human trafficking.
“The truth is that we are facing a security and humanitarian crisis at the Southern border, resulting in the loss of American lives and the devastation of our communities,” stated Speaker Johnson. “While the situation worsens, President López Obrador is cozying up to cartels and demanding increased mass migration into our country, funded by the United States. President Biden must recognize that tangible actions, not empty rhetoric, are essential to compel Mexico to fulfill its responsibilities in securing the border.”
Speaker Johnson emphasized the need to utilize all available tools, including the Migrant Protection Protocols, to secure the border and curb the influx of aliens into the United States. He stressed the importance of leveraging diplomatic and economic pressure to compel the Mexican government to cooperate effectively.
“As President López Obrador contemplates his legacy, he should acknowledge the rampant emigration from his country,” Speaker Johnson concluded, urging a reevaluation of Mexico’s approach to border security and immigration.
The remarks from Speaker Johnson underscore the escalating tensions between the United States and Mexico over border security and immigration policies.