Many Americans shared their opinions on whether President Biden should comply with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s demand for $20 billion a year for Latin American countries in exchange for help combating the illegal immigration crisis. Some felt that giving in to a foreign nation’s ultimatum would make the U.S. look weak, while others believed that the U.S. and Mexico need to work together to solve the immigration crisis. Obrador had called on the U.S. to send $20 billion a year to Latin American countries, lift sanctions on Venezuela, end the Cuban embargo, and legalize millions of Hispanics who have lived and worked in the U.S. for at least a decade.
However, there were differing opinions on whether the U.S. should comply with these demands. Some Americans felt that the U.S. should not give in and should instead focus on controlling the situation themselves. They expressed concerns about appearing weak and discussed the need for stronger border security measures. Others believed that Biden should comply in order to address the escalating border crisis, citing the high number of migrant encounters and the risk of people on the FBI terror watchlist crossing the border.
The U.S. has been experiencing a significant migrant surge at the southern border under Biden’s administration, with a record 2.4 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023, a sharp increase from previous years. In December, there were a record 302,000 migrant encounters for the month. CBP data also showed a 21% increase in migrant encounters in February compared to the previous year, with 69 people on the FBI terror watchlist caught between ports of entry at the southern border in the first five months of the fiscal year, significantly more than the total from previous years.
Some Americans expressed strong opinions on the matter, with some believing that compliance with Mexican demands would make the U.S. look weak, while others felt that addressing the root causes of migration and working with Mexico could benefit both countries. The ongoing debate highlights the complexities of the immigration crisis and the challenges faced by the Biden administration in managing the situation. The differing perspectives reflect the diverse opinions within the American population on how to address the issue and the impact of foreign demands on U.S. policies. Ultimately, the resolution of the border crisis and the handling of immigration issues will continue to be a significant challenge for the Biden administration and the U.S. as a whole.
