It remains largely unclear how a potential President Joe Biden would operate in comparison to what candidate Joe Biden espoused on the campaign trail regarding a variety of issues. One of those issues, which is of concern to many Americans, is the United States’ relationship with its bordering-neighbor to the south, Mexico.
After the Biden-Harris team posted a readout of a call Biden had with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president of Mexico, we should have gained a better understanding about how a Biden administration would approach U.S.-Mexico relations. But, alas, as Free Beacon editor Matthew Continetti points out, the posted dialogue between Biden and Obrador leaves many lingering questions.
It's worth reading this readout of Biden's call with Mexico's AMLO closely. First, notable that AMLO, who has never accepted results of 2006 presidential election he lost, recognizes Biden as president-elect. (1/5)
— Matthew Continetti (@continetti) December 20, 2020
Continetti notes a couple of variations from Biden’s campaign rhetoric in his call with the president of Mexico.
Second, note shift to addressing "root causes" of Northern Triangle migration to U.S. Third, Remain In Mexico policy, which Biden has said he will end, is not mentioned by name. (2/5)
— Matthew Continetti (@continetti) December 20, 2020
“The two leaders noted a shared desire to address the root causes of migration in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and southern Mexico and to build a future of greater opportunity and security for the region. They discussed working together on a new approach to regional migration that offers alternatives to undertaking the dangerous journey to the United States.”
Instead Biden "stands by the commitments he made on the campaign trail," while recognizing "it would take time" to fulfill said commitments. (3/5)
— Matthew Continetti (@continetti) December 20, 2020
Biden’s not even in office, and he’s talking about how much time fulfilling his commitments is going to take.
Biden also said the 'early months' of his administration will be spent building 'regional and border infrastructure and capacity' in order to 'facilitate a new orderly and humane approach to migration.' That suggests a go-slow approach. (4/5)
— Matthew Continetti (@continetti) December 20, 2020
It sure sounds as if Biden is leaving the door open for his potential administration to attempt doing just about whatever it wants with the border.
Left unanswered is what happens if there's a border surge before this 'infrastructure and capacity' is in place. (5/)
— Matthew Continetti (@continetti) December 20, 2020
No given timetable and few stated parameters provide little clarity on how a Biden-Harris administration would deal with problems on the southern border.
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