More than 2,500 Mexican troops, from the states of Tlaxcala, Durango, Yucatán and Mexico City, have fanned out along this historically violent border city in a show of force.
The troops are part of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s attempt to stave off President Donald Trump’s executive order announcing tariffs on Mexican, Canadian and Chinese goods coming to the U.S., a move aimed at pressuring the three countries into stopping the flow of fentanyl and immigrants into the U.S.
Trump delayed the tariffs on Mexico and Canada for 30 days, after both countries announced steps to ramp up security at their borders.
In total, Sheinbaum is deploying 10,000 troops across Mexico’s border with the U.S. The White House has touted Mexico’s troop deployment as a victory.
The debate over the troops’ deterrent effect is ramping up. One human smuggler who spoke to NBC News said the troops would not make a difference, but conceded Trump’s stricter border policies had significantly cut into his business.
