Trump threatens to double Mexico tariffs over migrant caravans

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump threatened to double tariffs on Mexico unless it successfully prevents migrant caravans from crossing the shared border, a task the Mexican government has previously performed. Mexican authorities have frequently intervened to stop groups of migrants traveling from Central America since September, with at least two additional groups attempting the journey recently.

Trump expressed his intentions on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that Mexico must act immediately to stop the migrants or face immediate tariff doubling. Members of the caravans, including one group of around 1,000 people and another of about 100, have expressed hope that Trump's Republicans' midterm election defeat would lead to less restrictive US border policies.

Democrats won both chambers of Congress and Texas's governorship in the recent elections. Mexican security forces detained dozens of people from a group of 100 migrants who crossed a river separating Mexico and Guatemala on Tuesday. Earlier, a group of 1,000 migrants entered Mexico without resistance. The caravans are expected to continue their journey, with another caravan planned to leave Honduras on Sunday.

Mexico and the United States are currently renegotiating their free trade agreement, and most US imports from Mexico are duty-free, except for steel and aluminum, which face duties ranging from 25% to 50%. Trump warned of no leniency, recalling similar occurrences during his first term and the Biden administration. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that no migrant caravan had reached the US border since Trump's return to office in January 2025, urging the caravans to understand that entering the United States is extremely difficult.

Sheinbaum proposed alternatives for migrants wishing to remain in Mexico under specific conditions. The US State Department had revoked visas for over 15 people believed to be organizing the migrant caravans.