Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, US President Joe Biden Agree To Clamp Down on Illegal Immigration

The US and Mexico recently agreed to cooperate on migration policy after President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke with one another on the phone on Sunday.

Both countries are still deliberating how they would go about doing this, with Biden still thinking about whether his administration should take executive action that would crack down on the number of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico Border.

The call between the two North American leaders happened at Biden's request, with AMLO confirming that the call did happen. In a joint statement, the two leaders said the call centered on their efforts to "effectively manage" migration and "strengthen operational efficiency" around the two countries' shared border.

"In the short term, the two leaders ordered their national security teams to work together to immediately implement concrete measures to significantly reduce irregular border crossings while protecting human rights," noted the joint statement between the US and Mexican governments.

Reuters noted that recently, the Biden White House has been using executive authority to block migrants at the border, a move that was not very popular with his fellow Democrats.

However, the White House is also discussing methods for temporary legal status and work permits to illegal immigrants already in the United States. These include those who are already married to US citizens. This is seen as a counterbalance to placate Democrats who are unhappy with Biden's recent moves at the US-Mexico border that were meant to satisfy Republicans.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Says US and Mexico Made Progress on Illegal Immigration

During his daily press conference, AMLO noted that he and Biden talk regularly about immigration and have already made progress in controlling unauthorized migration. This was done by persuading many migrants not to use illegal methods to cross borders.

According to the Los Angeles Times, AMLO also praised the US Supreme Court's decision last January to allow Border Patrol agents to resume cutting razor wire that the Texas State government installed along the border to try and deter migration.

AMLO also stated that he and Biden have already directed their respective national security aides to "immediately" to "place concrete measures to reduce the number of unauthorized border crossings." However, they did not elaborate on these steps, though both promised to protect human rights with the joint policy.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Policies Notably Making It Hard for Migrants To Reach US-Mexico Border

Meanwhile, AMLO has implemented some strict policies on migrants who actually reach Mexico. Those migrants heading north to the US-Mexico border are often bused southward, making it more difficult for migrants.

"If you catch me and I am a migrant, send me back to my country," one migrant named Ana Elizabeth Melgar told USA Today. "I get it: I don't belong here. But what is this nonsense that you're sending me south in Mexico? It's illogical."

Many experts and advocates are agreeing that Mexico should be credited in the recent lull in border crossings as AMLO has championed and intensified a busing program that aims to hurt migrants' chances of reaching the US-Mexico border. This policy has migrants apprehended on highways, train routes, and airports before busing them down south, near the Mexico-Guatemala border.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: The Truth About The Illegal Immigration CRISIS - The Infographics Show