Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Willing To Help With Migrant Crisis But US Must Hold Talks With Cuba

As more and more migrants travel through Mexico to head to the US-Mexico border, Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says he is willing to help but has some conditions. The first one is that the US government must hold talks with Cuba, and the second one is that the US must send more development aid to migrants' home countries as these migrants often leave their homes for what they believe is a better life in the US.

The announcement from AMLO came a day after it was announced that a delegation of top US officials headed by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken would be heading to Mexico for talks regarding immigration and how to enforce the US-Mexico border.

The Mexican president also confirmed that the US wants the Mexican government to block migrants from entering through the Mexico-Guatemala border to its south or at least make it more difficult for migrants to move across Mexico by train or in trucks or buses, according to the Associated Press.

Many of the migrants coming into the US-Mexico border are from countries hit by crippling US sanctions, such as Venezuela and Cuba, and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says that in addition to sending more development aid to migrants' home countries, he wants the US to reduce or eliminate these sanctions.

"We are going to help, as we always do," AMLO said. "Mexico is helping reach agreements with other countries, in this case, Venezuela," adding that "We also want something done about the (US) differences with Cuba" and that he had already told US President Joe Biden that a bilateral US-Cuba dialogue must be opened.

Thousands Join Migrant Caravan in Mexico Ahead of US Delegation's Visit

Meanwhile, as the US prepares for high-level talks with Mexico over the migrant crisis, thousands of migrants have joined a massive caravan on its way to the US-Mexico border.

According to the Associated Press, these migrants hail from various Central American countries, as well as Venezuela and Cuba. There is an estimated 6,000 people in that caravan, including families with young children. This is considered the largest caravan in over a year, and it departed from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, near the country's southern border with Guatemala.

Border Security Deal Closer Than Many Think

Right now, both chambers of Congress are on Christmas break and are expected to return next month. However, according to WTTW, a deal between Democrats and Republicans on border security might happen soon in the Senate after it gets back from vacation.

The White House is currently talking with key senators, and they have stuck to the three main areas of discussion, which are toughening asylum protocols for migrants, bolstering border enforcement with more personnel and high-tech systems, and deterring migrants from making the journey in the first place.

Shortly before the Senate went on break, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued a rare joint statement that indicated that negotiations are progressing.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Violence on Mexico-US border: Mexico says increasing enforcement at crossing - Al Jazeera English