<p>Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged the United States to allocate $20 billion to tackle the escalating issue of illegal immigration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Obrador's comment comes in the wake of a significant rise in illegal border crossings, with November alone witnessing 192,000 violations and an additional 9,600 daily migrant encounters during the initial three weeks of December.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-donkey-flights-what-it-means-and-the-modus-operandi-behind-risky-border-crossings-674766">Explained | 'Donkey flights': What it means and the modus operandi behind risky border crossings</a></strong></p>

<p>Obrador said during a briefing with journalists on Friday (Jan 5) that he requested US authorities to deploy the $20 billion in funds as part of a cooperative plan to help other countries in Latin America to combat the migrant crisis.</p>

<p>Additionally, Obrador appealed to the US to grant visas to at least 10 million Hispanic migrants with over a decade of work experience in the country, a point reportedly raised during his recent meeting with President Joe Biden in Mexico City.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;US: Republican Senators visit Texas border over migration crisis</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-republican-senators-visit-texas-border-over-migration-crisis-676424/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>On December 31, 2023, armed individuals kidnapped 32 Venezuelan and Honduran migrants from a bus. The perpetrators aimed to extort money from the victims and their families in the United States.</p>

<h2><strong>Need for enhanced law enforcement in focus</strong></h2>

<p>A phone conversation between Presidents Biden and Obrador on December 21 called for the need for enhanced enforcement at key ports of entry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall were subsequently sent to Mexico to address the pressing situation.</p>

<p>Notably in May 2023, President Obrador criticised the Biden administration for lifting the Title 42 immigration policy, arguing that it incentivised smugglers to exploit the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-title-42-covid-19-restricting-law-biden-administration-plans-to-lift-590561">What is Title 42? Covid migration control law from Trump era lapses, leading to worries of new influx</a></strong></p>

<p>Title 42, initially implemented during the Covid pandemic, expired on May 11, coinciding with the conclusion of the health emergency.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged the United States to allocate $20 billion to tackle the escalating issue of illegal immigration. Obrador's comment comes in the wake of a significant rise in illegal border crossings, with November alone witnessing 192,000 violations and an additional 9,600 daily migrant encounters during the initial three weeks of December.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged the United States to allocate $20 billion to tackle the escalating issue of illegal immigration. Obrador's comment comes in the wake of a significant rise in illegal border crossings, with November alone witnessing 192,000 violations and an additional 9,600 daily migrant encounters during the initial three weeks of December. Also read | Explained | 'Donkey flights': What it means and the modus operandi behind risky border crossings Obrador said during a briefing with journalists on Friday (Jan 5) that he requested US authorities to deploy the $20 billion in funds as part of a cooperative plan to help other countries in Latin America to combat the migrant crisis. Additionally, Obrador appealed to the US to grant visas to at least 10 million Hispanic migrants with over a decade of work experience in the country, a point reportedly raised during his recent meeting with President Joe Biden in Mexico City. Also watch | US: Republican Senators visit Texas border over migration crisis × On December 31, 2023, armed individuals kidnapped 32 Venezuelan and Honduran migrants from a bus. The perpetrators aimed to extort money from the victims and their families in the United States. Need for enhanced law enforcement in focus A phone conversation between Presidents Biden and Obrador on December 21 called for the need for enhanced enforcement at key ports of entry. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall were subsequently sent to Mexico to address the pressing situation. Notably in May 2023, President Obrador criticised the Biden administration for lifting the Title 42 immigration policy, arguing that it incentivised smugglers to exploit the situation. Also read | What is Title 42? Covid migration control law from Trump era lapses, leading to worries of new influx Title 42, initially implemented during the Covid pandemic, expired on May 11, coinciding with the conclusion of the health emergency. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexican president seeks billions in funding from US to combat illegal migration

Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador challenged U.S. President Joe Biden to end an attitude of “abandonment” and “disdain” for Latin America and the Caribbean as the two leaders met on Monday.

Diplomatic tensions spark as Biden, Obrador sit down for talks

Thousands of people marched in Mexico's capital waving the country's flag and chanting it's honour to be with president Manuel Lopez Obrador. Watch full video to know more.

Mexico's President Lopez Obrador leads supporters in march through capital