Want Less Migrants? Mexico Makes Demands

What’s happening: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador warned during an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes that the mass flow of migrants to the United States will continue unless President Biden satisfies his lengthy list of demands.

• The list of demands: Mexico requests the White House to lift sanctions on Venezuela, end the Cuban embargo, provide $20 billion in aid to Latin American and Caribbean countries, and grant amnesty to Mexican migrants in the United States.

• The penalty: If these demands are not met, left-wing populist Obrador argues that “the flow of migrants will continue” with Mexico refraining from taking steps to curb the immigration crisis.

Meanwhile: Biden was strongly considering a series of executive actions, such as restrictions on asylum and increased funding for border agents, to address the crisis at the southern border after the bipartisan border deal failed earlier this year. He is now stalling those efforts and appears to have gone silent.

• Yet, Immigration has overtaken the economy as the biggest issue for voters, as officials are preparing for a spring surge of migrant border crossings.

America last: Since taking office, Biden has capitulated to Obrador by ending the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy and allowing Mexico to violate trade agreements.

Why it matters: Obrador previously proved Mexico's ability to slow the northbound flood of illegal migrants and is now using this leverage against the United States to meet his demands. Biden needs Mexico's cooperation to restrain the border crisis and win over voters in his re-election bid.