President-elect Donald Trump announced that he will be imposing 25 percent tariffs on goods entering the U.S. from Canada or Mexico if the two nations do not take steps to crack down on illegal immigrants using the two countries as a stepping stone to the United States.
“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before. Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Trump announced in a Truth Social post on Monday evening.
“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”
Since President Biden took office in January 2021, more than 10 million illegal aliens have entered the United States. Millions of border crosses violate international asylum law — under which applicants are supposed to claim asylum in the first viable country they encounter — in order to enter the United States. In 2022 and 2023 respectively, record numbers of illegal aliens entered the United States.
The Biden Administration has been allowing migrants from Africa, the Middle East, China and South America to claim asylum before they are released into the interior of the United States.
Trump has vowed to reinstitute the popular “Remain In Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait outside the country while their claims are processed, in his first day in office. The Biden Administration has instead opted for a “catch and release” policy, where asylum seekers are given a court date before being transported to a U.S. city of their choosing.
In a follow-up post, Trump detailed plans to slap additional tariffs on Chinese goods.
“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail. Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” the president-elect wrote.
“Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”