Will the Left express outrage at the xenophobic, racist, border-closing, nationalism of Mexico? Yes, Mexico. Newly elected President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has closed his country’s southern border with Guatemala. Yes, it sounds promising. No, it’s not a free gesture.
Related: Mr. Trump Reacts to the Words of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama on Border Security
Part of the motivation is internal. Migrant caravans are aggravating Mexican citizens. In Tijuana, were as many as 10,000 waiting for the opportunity to seek asylum in the US. The local population is stressed to the breaking point. Mexico has offered free transportation back to their home countries. Closing the border keeps that problem out of Mexico. But not for free.
The border control policy doesn’t come free for the United States, however. The Toronto Star reports that Mexico is asking for help in creating a “Central American jobs program.” (To) help the residents of developing nations like El Salvador and Guatemala find opportunities at home. Mexico is looking for a U.S. commitment of approximately $20 billion dollars — no small ask.
Is there some gamesmanship at work here?
The low-end estimate for a 1,933-mile border wall is $21 billion. Hyperbolic, never in a million years totals reach up to $70 billion. This makes $20 billion looks like peanuts.
Exit Question: If you were going to spend 20 billion would you rather have 20 billion worth of border wall? Or an equal “investment” in third-world partners who promise to spend it on job creation?
I’d go with the wall.
