Mexican president calls on US to undertake 'comprehensive' immigration reform

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA)— Following President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration, the Mexican president called on Tuesday for the US to implement a comprehensive immigration reform.

Under the direction of the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has bolstered efforts to increase the number of arrests of undocumented immigrants, peaking at 2,200 arrests in a single day.

During her morning press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed to protect Mexican nationals living in the US while also urging Washington to pursue alternative approaches to immigration policy.

"Our position has always been one of defending Mexicans living in the United States—our permanent support. At the same time, we call for an approach that does not involve raids or violence but rather addresses the issue through comprehensive immigration reform that acknowledges the role of migrants in the United States, especially those who have been working there for many years," she said.

The raids have been conducted in public areas, including worksites and known gathering places for foreigners, and have drawn international criticism, as racial profiling and human rights abuses have become central to Trump’s anti-immigration strategy.

The aggressive stance on immigration has led to over 100,000 arrests by ICE officers, with more than 54,000 people currently held in immigration detention centers across the US.

Mexico's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that 42 Mexican nationals have been arrested and are currently being held in detention in Los Angeles, California, alone.