By Annie Correal and Emiliano Rodríguez Mega
In the lead-up to his inauguration, Donald Trump consistently promised to enact the most extensive deportations in U.S. history and to enhance border militarization, all while his transition team dismissed outreach from regional leaders concerning the impacts of his intended policies.
He targeted nations like Mexico in his attacks, alleging that migrants were inundating the U.S. with fentanyl and threatening to impose severe tariffs. Additionally, he fixated on Panama, frequently claiming that the country had allowed China to take control, necessitating U.S. intervention to regain the Panama Canal.
Thus, as Trump took the oath of office in Washington on Monday, the usual congratulatory messages were punctuated by those from Latin American leaders that diverged significantly from standard diplomatic protocol.
“There is absolutely no reason for Mexico to keep its head down or feel inferior. We are a formidable nation, a cultural powerhouse,” President Claudia Sheinbaum stated during her daily press briefing. “Our relationship with the United States will hinge on equality.”
She also sought to comfort Mexicans residing in the U.S. without legal status who could be at risk of deportation. “Mexicans are vital to the U.S. economy, and the Trump administration recognizes this,” Sheinbaum declared. “To our fellow countrymen and women: You are not alone, and it’s important to stay calm.”
As per the Pew Research Center, Mexico comprises the nation with the largest population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., with approximately 4 million Mexicans living there illegally as of 2022.
On the same day, Mexico’s foreign minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, asserted that Mexico would not endorse the expected reinstatement of a policy known as Remain in Mexico, which under Trump’s previous term forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their immigration court hearings. Human rights organizations claim this policy benefited drug cartels, which preyed on asylum seekers for extortion, kidnapping, and assault.
“Yes, they can do it; it’s within their rights,” de la Fuente acknowledged regarding the U.S. But he also noted that while “some agreements” might be made, Mexico was not legally bound to facilitate the processing of migrants’ asylum claims for the U.S.
Later that day, Sheinbaum took to social media to congratulate Trump. “As neighbors and trade partners, dialogue, respect, and cooperation will always represent our relationship,” she wrote.
Nonetheless, during an extensive session of signing executive orders, Trump declared Monday that he would impose 25% tariffs on both Mexico and Canada starting on Feb. 1, accusing them, as he has previously, of permitting immigrants and fentanyl to enter the U.S. Sheinbaum and several officials from her administration have previously indicated that Mexico might retaliate with their own tariffs against the U.S.
Following Trump’s inauguration, Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who warned previously that she was ready to expel U.S. military presence if Trump pursued mass deportations, limited her comments to a courteous message welcoming him back to office.
However, the country’s deputy foreign minister, Tony García, stated in a phone interview Monday afternoon that Honduras and several neighboring nations did not intend to accept vast numbers of flights carrying deportees without first negotiating the process with the new administration.
“They cannot proceed unilaterally,” he emphasized regarding mass deportations.
García also mentioned that while there are no immediate plans to terminate Honduras’ military agreement with the U.S., which currently allows U.S. operations from a significant military base, the Castro administration is considering it as a viable option to ensure they are taken seriously.
Several foreign ministers convened last week to strategize their response to Trump’s incoming administration in Mexico City, including representatives from Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela. According to García, they reached a consensus that they would not permit any forced deportations. “If a country denies entry, then not a single plane can land,” he stated.
Estimates suggest that around 525,000 Hondurans live in the U.S. without legal status, as per the Pew Research Center. García noted that Honduras has received flights with over half a million deported individuals from the U.S. over the last decade. He affirmed that while the country plans to continue receiving such flights, both governments must establish a comprehensive plan beforehand.
“We advocate for collaboration,” he stated. “Not subordination.”
His remarks were some of the most pointed directed at the new president.
In Panama, a recent target of Trump’s criticisms, including unfounded claims that China controls the Panama Canal and that the U.S. should reclaim it, President José Raúl Mulino firmly repudiated the president’s statements, which were reiterated during his inaugural address.
“The Canal is and will remain under Panama’s ownership, and its administration will persist under Panamanian governance,” Mulino stated in a message shared on the X social platform.
However, later in the day, the Panamanian comptroller’s office revealed that auditors had visited the country’s maritime authorities to initiate an audit of Panama Ports Co., a subsidiary of Hutchison Ports Holding. This company is a major operator of ports and the primary concessionaire for ports in the country, which is also part of CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate.
“The objective of this thorough audit is to guarantee the efficient and transparent utilization of public resources,” stated the comptroller’s office.
In a turn of events, nations that have historically been close trading allies of the U.S. perceived threats to their economies. By late Monday, Mexican officials had not yet reacted to Trump’s tariff threats. However, Canada’s finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc, was quick to respond.
“Our nation is fully prepared to address any of these scenarios,” LeBlanc affirmed. “We continue to believe that implementing such measures would be a misstep.”
