Trump talks about 'invasion' of Mexican immigrants and threatens to double taifas; Mexico denies

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, threatened this Thursday (12) to double tariffs on Mexican products if Mexico does not prevent the passage of supposed caravans of immigrants, who were trying to cross the border illegally.

In response, the country's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, stated that no convoy has reached the American border since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

The clash between the leaders of neighboring countries began when Trump published in Truth Social that the United States is facing an "invasion" of immigrants and said that large groups were preparing to leave Mexican territory.

He wrote that "huge caravans are forming and beginning their illegal march through Mexico." According to him, many of the members of these groups are people that other countries do not want to receive.

"MEXICO NEEDS TO STOP THEM NOW, and if it doesn't, tariffs on Mexico will IMMEDIATELY DOUBLE," said the Republican.

Sheinbaum countered the statement hours later, denying it at his daily press conference.

She explained that a caravan with around 600 migrants, which was crossing the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico, practically dispersed. According to her, the group's members were told that it would be "very difficult" to reach the United States.

The president also said that Mexican authorities are negotiating with another group, made up of hundreds of Honduran migrants, to convince them to return to their country of origin.

Asked whether the Mexican government would use force to disperse the caravans, Sheinbaum ruled out that possibility. She said authorities have "extensive experience" in tracking migrants and explaining to them that the chances of them crossing the U.S. border are slim.

Following the midterm elections in the United States, in which Democrats won control of Congress, Trump announced Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff. Miller is one of the main people responsible for formulating the Republican government's strictest immigration policies.

Trump's new threat comes as Mexico and the United States negotiate the reduction or elimination of tariffs imposed by Washington on several Mexican products last year.

The talks also take place during the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which began in July.

The Mexican government seeks to significantly reduce the 10% tariffs applied to products from the country that are not covered by the trade agreement. It also wants to review the 25% tax on medium and heavy trucks.

Negotiations also include 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum and a 17% compensatory tax on Mexican tomatoes.