White House spokesman says Trump border threat spurs Mexico to action

PHOENIX – President Donald Trump’s threat to close the U.S.-Mexico border against a flood of migrants has had its intended effect and Mexico is taking its role more seriously, a White House spokesman said Friday.

“What he wanted was a change in behavior from various stakeholders in this situation … and what did happen was Mexico actually came to the table,” White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.

“(Mexico has been) setting up checkpoints along the way to try and curtail some of this illegal crossing,” Gidley said.

The president said last week he would shut down the border “if Mexico does not immediately stop” the large numbers of migrants crossing over. “Mexico is tough, they can stop them. And if they don’t stop them, we’re closing the border,” he said.

Gidley said Mexico had begun putting checkpoints in place not only along the southern border, but also inland.

“I think that’s very important to not let them in the first place,” Gidley said of the migrants’ journey through Mexico.

Trump has said and tweeted much the same thing about Mexico’s role in the border issue:

….However, if for any reason Mexico stops apprehending and bringing the illegals back to where they came from, the U.S. will be forced to Tariff at 25% all cars made in Mexico and shipped over the Border to us. If that doesn’t work, which it will, I will close the Border…….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 5, 2019

After many years (decades), Mexico is apprehending large numbers of people at their Southern Border, mostly from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. They have ALL been taking U.S. money for years, and doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for us, just like the Democrats in Congress!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2019

Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2019

Mexico must use its very strong immigration laws to stop the many thousands of people trying to get into the USA. Our detention areas are maxed out & we will take no more illegals. Next step is to close the Border! This will also help us with stopping the Drug flow from Mexico!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2019

The president has backed off from shutting down the border, instead saying he’d slap tariffs on cars coming to the U.S. from Mexico.

Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen met with federal border and immigration officials in Yuma, Arizona, to discuss the crush of migrants seeking asylum.

She will join Trump on a visit to another border town, Calexico, California, on Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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