Mexico faces challenges as US immigration policies shift
“With Mexico, I think we are going very well,” said President Trump in a video address to the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. The two neighbours may yet find a workable solution on immigration which is acceptable to both - President Sheinbaum has said the key is dialogue and keeping the channels of communication open.
Undoubtedly, though, she recognises the potential stress President Trump's declaration of an emergency at the US border could place on Mexico.
An estimated 5 million undocumented Mexicans currently live in the United States and the prospect of a mass return could quickly saturate and overwhelm border cities like Juarez and Tijuana.
It's an issue which worries Jose Maria Garcia Lara, the director of the Juventud 2000 migrant shelter in Tijuana. As he shows me around the facility, which is already nearing its capacity, he says there are very few places he can fit more families.
“If we have to, we can maybe put some people in the kitchen or the library,” he says.
There comes a point, though, where there simply isn't any space left - and donations of food, medical supplies, blankets and hygiene products will be stretched too thin.
“We're being hit on two fronts. Firstly, the arrival of Mexicans and other migrants who are fleeing violence,” says Mr Garcia.
“But also, we'll have the mass deportations. We don't know how many people will come across the border needing our help. Together, these two things could create a huge problem.”
