Biden administration in backroom talks with Mexico to reduce migrant flow

At first glance, it seems as if The New York Times buried this story by mixing it in with the announcement that the US is giving millions of vaccine doses to both Canada and Mexico.

But a closer look reveals how this vaccine handout to Mexico is coming off as a “quid pro quo” type of scenario. This as the Biden administration is reported to be asking Mexico for more direct help in dealing with the border crisis.

The New York Times describes Biden as falling back on the ways of former President Trump in that regard. They explain:

“Anticipating a surge of migrants and the most apprehensions by American agents at the border in two decades, Mr. Biden asked President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico in a video call this month whether more could be done to help solve the problem, according to Mexican officials and another person briefed on the conversation.”

The outlet notes Trump's threat of tariffs and strong bravado sent enough of a message to discourage potential travelers in the first place.

Whereas President Biden in a recent ABC News interview had to directly state migrants should not come over, in response to the impression his campaign had given off beforehand.

Mexico plans to increase security on their border with Guatemala to stop the flow of migrant traffic from Central America. The coincidental gift of 2.5 million doses of vaccine is seen by officials as a boon for US/Mexico relations no matter what the intent might be behind it.

Director general for North America at Mexico's foreign ministry department explicitly stated that the migration and vaccine topics are two separate issues. That just happened to come up at the same time.

When asked about it today’s news briefing, White House Jen Psaki reiterated it as purely coincidental. “There’s rarely just one issue you’re discussing with any country at one time. “Certainly that’s not the case with Mexico. It’s not the case with any country around the world. And so I wouldn’t read into it more than our ability to provide — to lend — vaccine doses.”

Over the past few days border officials have now commandeered a convention center in Dallas for housing up to 3000 young migrants. Concerns about poor sanitary conditions are being quashed by the Biden administration’s unofficial media blackout blocking press access to investigating these migrant facilities. A focal point emphasized in Texas Governor Abbot’s remarks. He claims state and local authorities are facing similar blockages from the federal government to properly evaluate the border situation.