(NewsNation) — President-elect Donald Trump is promising a major crackdown on the southern border with mass deportations when he takes office next month. Now, he claims Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has agreed to close the border — something she is categorically denying.
Trump is ramping up his border plans with his latest picks for top White House jobs, choosing Rodney Scott for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol chief and Caleb Vitello as the acting director of the agency.
One solution being floated regarding the plan is deporting people to their non-country of origin — and some countries have already pushed back on that idea. The Bahamas said they don’t want to take in any migrants who don’t initially hail from the Bahamas. Mexico’s president said she doesn’t want any deal to be struck with the U.S. that causes them to take in migrants who are not Mexican nationals.
“Obviously, we stand in solidarity with everyone, but our main purpose is to receive Mexicans,” said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. “We hope to reach an agreement with the Trump administration so that, in case these massive deportations happen, they send people from other countries directly to their countries of origin.”
Trump on Thursday said the following when announcing Rodney Scott’s nomination:
“Rodney served nearly three decades in the Border Patrol, building vast experience and knowledge in Law Enforcement and Border Security,” Trump said in a Thursday night announcement on Truth Social. “Rodney served as the 24th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, where he implemented Remain-in-Mexico, Title 42, Safe Third Agreements, and achieved record low levels of illegal immigration.”
Scott began his service in Border Patrol in the 1990s. He rose through the ranks, serving as the head of the Border Patrol during both Trump’s and President Biden’s administrations. He was appointed by Trump in February 2020. He oversaw over 21,000 personnel and backed some of Trump’s border policies, like expanding the wall with neighboring Mexico.
