In a recent “60 Minutes” interview, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, widely known as AMLO, issued a bold ultimatum to the Biden administration regarding the ongoing crisis at the U.S. southern border.
The leftist leader threatened to exacerbate the already dire situation by allowing an unchecked influx of illegal immigrants into the United States if his demands are not met.
AMLO’s list of demands includes substantial financial aid amounting to tens of billions of dollars per year for Latin American countries, work visas for 10 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S., the lifting of sanctions on Venezuela, and the termination of the longstanding embargo on Cuba.
During the interview, AMLO asserted that his actions were responsible for the decrease in illegal border crossings between December and January.
He then proceeded to issue a thinly veiled threat, suggesting that if the U.S. fails to comply with his demands, he will reverse course and allow the unimpeded flow of migrants to continue unabated.
When pressed on the potential consequences of the U.S. not meeting his conditions, AMLO bluntly stated, “The flow of migrants … will continue.”
This statement leaves little doubt about the Mexican president’s intentions to use the border crisis as leverage to strong-arm the Biden administration into acquiescing to his demands.
AMLO’s threat should be viewed as a brazen attempt at blackmail, capitalizing on the perceived weakness of the Biden administration in dealing with the ongoing border crisis.
The president of Mexico’s proposal for stemming immigration includes:
– The U.S. commit $20 billion a year to poor countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
-Lift sanctions on Venezuela
-End the Cuban embargo
-Legalize law-abiding Mexicans living in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/rmJ1j78SxQ— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) March 24, 2024
By exploiting the U.S. government’s apparent inability to effectively address the situation, AMLO seeks to gain significant concessions that align with his political agenda, regardless of the potential impact on the United States and its citizens.
When questioned about the potential perception of his stance as “diplomatic blackmail,” AMLO responded unapologetically, stating, “I am speaking frankly. We have to say things as they are, and I always say what I feel. I always say what I think.”
The interview notably omitted any discussion of how President Biden’s policies have contributed to the escalation of the border crisis or his apparent reluctance to confront the issue head-on.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to AMLO’s ultimatum and whether they will stand firm in the face of this blatant attempt at blackmail or capitulate to the Mexican president’s demands at the expense of U.S. sovereignty and security.
