The government data obtained by CBS News revealed that the United States immigration officials on the southern border expect to process more than 300,000 migrants in December alone, which is an all-time monthly high. The report said that it will likely include a record number of families travelling with children.&nbsp;

This came amid reports emerged that migrants amassed at the US southern border with Mexico as officials from both countries agreed to work together more closely to tackle record migration at their shared border.&nbsp;

The migrants gathered behind barbed wire set up by the state of Texas and patrolled by the Texas National Guard. They were to be processed.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-dead-in-week-of-burkina-attacks-security-sources-675377">'Dozens' dead in week of Burkina attacks: Security sources</a>&nbsp;

Following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Mexico, the countries agreed to strengthen a sponsorship project for Venezuelan, Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Haitian migrants while also addressing the core causes of migration. The negotiations came after the US temporarily closed some border crossings in order to redeploy agents to enforcement.&nbsp;

The CBS News report highlighted how the massive number of migrant arrivals this month put a strain on both sides. The situation has stranded tens of thousands of migrants and spurred politicians to consider severely restricting asylum.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that US Border Patrol agents are on course to take into custody a quarter of a million migrants who entered the country illegally at the Mexican border in December.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-sunak-at-centre-of-tory-breakdown-over-secret-election-talks-with-dominic-cummings-675371">UK PM Sunak at centre of Tory breakdown over 'secret election talks' with Dominic Cummings</a>&nbsp;

Meanwhile, other officials at ports are expected to process roughly 50,000 new arrivals under a Biden administration appointment system. The data has posed a significant political vulnerability for President Joe Biden as he seeks re-election.&nbsp;

This is the first time, as monthly statistics dating back to the fiscal year 2000 showed that the US Customs and Border Protection has never processed that many migrants along the southern border in one month.&nbsp;

As reported, the preliminary Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statistics showed that Border Patrol personnel processed approximately 235,000 migrants till December 28. They crossed the southern border unlawfully between ports of entry. If current trends continue, Border Patrol will report over 260,000 apprehensions this month, which is a record high.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The government data obtained by CBS News revealed that the United States immigration officials on the southern border expect to process more than 300,000 migrants in December alone, which is an all-time monthly high.

The government data obtained by CBS News revealed that the United States immigration officials on the southern border expect to process more than 300,000 migrants in December alone, which is an all-time monthly high. The report said that it will likely include a record number of families travelling with children. This came amid reports emerged that migrants amassed at the US southern border with Mexico as officials from both countries agreed to work together more closely to tackle record migration at their shared border. The migrants gathered behind barbed wire set up by the state of Texas and patrolled by the Texas National Guard. They were to be processed. Also read: 'Dozens' dead in week of Burkina attacks: Security sources Following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Mexico, the countries agreed to strengthen a sponsorship project for Venezuelan, Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Haitian migrants while also addressing the core causes of migration. The negotiations came after the US temporarily closed some border crossings in order to redeploy agents to enforcement. The CBS News report highlighted how the massive number of migrant arrivals this month put a strain on both sides. The situation has stranded tens of thousands of migrants and spurred politicians to consider severely restricting asylum. The report mentioned that US Border Patrol agents are on course to take into custody a quarter of a million migrants who entered the country illegally at the Mexican border in December. Also read: UK PM Sunak at centre of Tory breakdown over 'secret election talks' with Dominic Cummings Meanwhile, other officials at ports are expected to process roughly 50,000 new arrivals under a Biden administration appointment system. The data has posed a significant political vulnerability for President Joe Biden as he seeks re-election. This is the first time, as monthly statistics dating back to the fiscal year 2000 showed that the US Customs and Border Protection has never processed that many migrants along the southern border in one month. As reported, the preliminary Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statistics showed that Border Patrol personnel processed approximately 235,000 migrants till December 28. They crossed the southern border unlawfully between ports of entry. If current trends continue, Border Patrol will report over 260,000 apprehensions this month, which is a record high. (With inputs from agencies)

US border officials to process a record 300,000 migrants in December: Report

The US Supreme Court has decided to keep in effect, for now, the controversial Trump-era immigration policy, called Title 42, that was implemented during the start of the Covid pandemic to prevent the movement on the US-Mexico border.

The Biden administration had appealed at the top court to end the pandemic restriction, but the court on Tuesday in a 5-4 ruling decided to keep it temporarily.

It was originally due to expire on December 21 but, two days before the deadline, Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts blocked its termination.

On Tuesday, the court extended the temporary stay ordered by Justice Roberts while the case moved forward.

Moreover, the apex court will hear oral arguments on whether the states can intervene in defence of the policy.

The court will likely hear the arguments in February or March 2023, and a decision would be made by the end of June.

<h2>Migrants at US-Mexico border brave bitter cold; Title 42 restrictions to stay or go?</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/migrants-at-us-mexico-border-brave-bitter-cold-title-42-restrictions-to-stay-or-go-546435/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Under Title 42, authorities have the power to deport undocumented migrants they encounter, without giving them a chance to ask for asylum protection or other protections under US law.

Former president Donald Trump implemented this order in March 2020 when COVID-19 was just beginning to surge in this country.

The Biden administration said it would comply with the ruling but called for reform of immigration policy.

"We are advancing our preparations to manage the border in a secure, orderly, and humane way when Title 42 eventually lifts and will continue expanding legal pathways for immigration," it said in a&nbsp;statement.

The judgement was well received by 19 Republican states who asked the court to keep the restrictions in place, not because of a public health emergency, but because they say removing the restrictions would likely cause a surge of illegal immigration.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The US Supreme Court has decided to keep in effect, for now, the controversial Trump-era immigration policy, called Title 42, that was implemented during the start of the Covid pandemic to prevent the movement on the US-Mexico border.

The US Supreme Court has decided to keep in effect, for now, the controversial Trump-era immigration policy, called Title 42, that was implemented during the start of the Covid pandemic to prevent the movement on the US-Mexico border. The Biden administration had appealed at the top court to end the pandemic restriction, but the court on Tuesday in a 5-4 ruling decided to keep it temporarily. It was originally due to expire on December 21 but, two days before the deadline, Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts blocked its termination. On Tuesday, the court extended the temporary stay ordered by Justice Roberts while the case moved forward. Moreover, the apex court will hear oral arguments on whether the states can intervene in defence of the policy. The court will likely hear the arguments in February or March 2023, and a decision would be made by the end of June. Migrants at US-Mexico border brave bitter cold; Title 42 restrictions to stay or go? Under Title 42, authorities have the power to deport undocumented migrants they encounter, without giving them a chance to ask for asylum protection or other protections under US law. Former president Donald Trump implemented this order in March 2020 when COVID-19 was just beginning to surge in this country. The Biden administration said it would comply with the ruling but called for reform of immigration policy. "We are advancing our preparations to manage the border in a secure, orderly, and humane way when Title 42 eventually lifts and will continue expanding legal pathways for immigration," it said in a statement. The judgement was well received by 19 Republican states who asked the court to keep the restrictions in place, not because of a public health emergency, but because they say removing the restrictions would likely cause a surge of illegal immigration. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Title 42: US Supreme Court keeps controversial Trump-era border restriction policy in place

Authorities in Washington unveiled a series of indictments which revealed a lucrative human smuggling operation across the US-Mexico border. They have indicated that this operation allegedly entails smuggling migrants in suitcases and water tanks to get them across the border. Officials with the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told reporters on Tuesday&nbsp;that these smugglers are profit-driven and indifferent to human life.&nbsp;

According to court records and media reports, at least eight people, most of whom&nbsp;are US citizens, were charged in relation to this operation which has smuggled hundreds of people in wooden crates on tractor-trailers with little ventilation. Additionally, six others were cited as co-conspirators, the reports indicated.&nbsp;

This move is in line with US President Joe Biden and his administration’s bid to disrupt and curtail smuggling networks at the US-Mexico border. So far, they have arrested nearly 2 million people this fiscal year, which began last October. “They have become increasingly intertwined with the cartels and there is increasing evidence of the abuse, exploitation and violence they perpetrate on migrants,” &nbsp;said DHS deputy secretary, John Tien, at a press conference.&nbsp;

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US prosecutors also identified Texas resident Erminia Serrano Piedra, a 31-year-old, who also goes by the name “boss lady”, as the leader of the smuggling operation. Serrano Piedra deposited more than $1.3 million in two bank accounts between December 2017 and August 2021.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, in June, 53 migrants being smuggled across the border died after they were trapped in a sweltering tractor trailer in San Antonio, Texas. This was as the temperature in the area had soared as high as 39.4 degree Celsius. Subsequently, four men including the alleged driver were charged by prosecutors. According to a report, half of the 53 victims were from Mexico while others were from Central American countries, Honduras and Guatemala. &nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Authorities in Washington unveiled a series of indictments which revealed a lucrative human smuggling operation across the US-Mexico border. They have indicated that this operation allegedly entails smuggling migrants in suitcases and water tanks to get them across the border.

Authorities in Washington unveiled a series of indictments which revealed a lucrative human smuggling operation across the US-Mexico border. They have indicated that this operation allegedly entails smuggling migrants in suitcases and water tanks to get them across the border. Officials with the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told reporters on Tuesday that these smugglers are profit-driven and indifferent to human life. According to court records and media reports, at least eight people, most of whom are US citizens, were charged in relation to this operation which has smuggled hundreds of people in wooden crates on tractor-trailers with little ventilation. Additionally, six others were cited as co-conspirators, the reports indicated. This move is in line with US President Joe Biden and his administration’s bid to disrupt and curtail smuggling networks at the US-Mexico border. So far, they have arrested nearly 2 million people this fiscal year, which began last October. “They have become increasingly intertwined with the cartels and there is increasing evidence of the abuse, exploitation and violence they perpetrate on migrants,” said DHS deputy secretary, John Tien, at a press conference. ALSO READ | 94 people rescued in Mexico after driver abandons vehicle carrying illegal migrants US prosecutors also identified Texas resident Erminia Serrano Piedra, a 31-year-old, who also goes by the name “boss lady”, as the leader of the smuggling operation. Serrano Piedra deposited more than $1.3 million in two bank accounts between December 2017 and August 2021. Earlier this year, in June, 53 migrants being smuggled across the border died after they were trapped in a sweltering tractor trailer in San Antonio, Texas. This was as the temperature in the area had soared as high as 39.4 degree Celsius. Subsequently, four men including the alleged driver were charged by prosecutors. According to a report, half of the 53 victims were from Mexico while others were from Central American countries, Honduras and Guatemala. (with inputs from agencies)

Smugglers put migrants in suitcases and empty water tanks, allege US prosecutors

The number of unaccompanied children encountered on the US border with Mexico in April eased from an all-time high a month earlier, while more adults were found coming without families, authorities said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Authorities encountered 17,171 children traveling alone, down nine per cent from 18,960 in March, according to US Customs and Border Protection, but still well above the previous high of 11,475 reported in May 2019 by the Border Patrol, which began publishing numbers in 2009. &nbsp;

Overall, the Border Patrol's 173,460 encounters with migrants on the Mexican border in April were up three per cent from 169,213 in March, the highest level since April 2000. So, the number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border hit a 21-year high last month.

The numbers aren't directly comparable because a solid majority of those stopped in April were quickly expelled from the country under federal pandemic-related powers that deny rights to seek asylum. Being expelled carries no legal consequences, so many people try to cross multiple times.&nbsp;

Border Patrol encounters with people coming in families fell in similar proportion to unaccompanied children, down 10 per cent to 48,226 from 53,406 in March. Slightly more than one of three family encounters resulted in pandemic-related expulsions. &nbsp;

The numbers offer the latest read on one of the most serious challenges to Joe Biden's young presidency. Despite some encouraging news in April on unaccompanied children and families, Biden has a lot riding on a new ‘humane’ asylum system that has yet to be unveiled. There don't appear to be quick, easy answers.&nbsp;

Single adults from Mexico and Central America drove the overall increase in activity in April. The Border Patrol had 108,301 encounters with adults traveling without children, up 12 per cent from 97,074 in March. Nearly nine of 10 adult encounters ended in expulsions under pandemic-related authority granted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.&nbsp;

Biden has exempted unaccompanied children from expulsion, allowing them to stay in the US while pursuing asylum claims. Families with young children are also often released in the US while their cases wind through the bottlenecked immigration court system.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The number of unaccompanied children encountered on the US border with Mexico in April eased from an all-time high a month earlier, while more adults were found coming without families, authorities said on Tuesday.

The number of unaccompanied children encountered on the US border with Mexico in April eased from an all-time high a month earlier, while more adults were found coming without families, authorities said on Tuesday. Authorities encountered 17,171 children traveling alone, down nine per cent from 18,960 in March, according to US Customs and Border Protection, but still well above the previous high of 11,475 reported in May 2019 by the Border Patrol, which began publishing numbers in 2009. Overall, the Border Patrol's 173,460 encounters with migrants on the Mexican border in April were up three per cent from 169,213 in March, the highest level since April 2000. So, the number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border hit a 21-year high last month. The numbers aren't directly comparable because a solid majority of those stopped in April were quickly expelled from the country under federal pandemic-related powers that deny rights to seek asylum. Being expelled carries no legal consequences, so many people try to cross multiple times. Border Patrol encounters with people coming in families fell in similar proportion to unaccompanied children, down 10 per cent to 48,226 from 53,406 in March. Slightly more than one of three family encounters resulted in pandemic-related expulsions. The numbers offer the latest read on one of the most serious challenges to Joe Biden's young presidency. Despite some encouraging news in April on unaccompanied children and families, Biden has a lot riding on a new ‘humane’ asylum system that has yet to be unveiled. There don't appear to be quick, easy answers. Single adults from Mexico and Central America drove the overall increase in activity in April. The Border Patrol had 108,301 encounters with adults traveling without children, up 12 per cent from 97,074 in March. Nearly nine of 10 adult encounters ended in expulsions under pandemic-related authority granted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Biden has exempted unaccompanied children from expulsion, allowing them to stay in the US while pursuing asylum claims. Families with young children are also often released in the US while their cases wind through the bottlenecked immigration court system. (With inputs from agencies)

Number of children travelling alone at US border eases in April 

Mexico has identified at least four of the 19 bodies found shot and burnt near the US border, prosecutors said Saturday.&nbsp;

Two Guatemalans&nbsp;believed to be migrants and two Mexicans were identified by their DNA after authorities discovered the bodies on January 22, the prosecutor’s office in the northern state of Tamaulipas said in a statement.

It said members of the Interior Ministry’s national search commission had been added to the investigation for "greater transparency", in collaboration with the foreign ministry and the Guatemalan embassy in Mexico.

"It was determined that 16 correspond to the male sex, one to the female sex, and two are pending clarification" due to the severity of the burning, the prosecutors said.

A team of forensics experts, dentists, geneticists and criminology specialists has been formed to identify the victims.

Residents of the Guatemalan town of Comitancillo suspect at least a dozen of the victims are their relatives, according to authorities in the Central American country.

Authorities in Tamaulipas, who worked with the neighbouring state of Nuevo Leon, established that 113 bullets were fired into a vehicle where the bodies were found.

Tamaulipas, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, is the shortest route to the United States from Guatemala, but it is dangerous because of the presence of gangs that kidnap, extort, and murder migrants.

The region is regularly the scene of clashes between the North West cartel, which controls part of Nuevo Leon, and the Gulf cartel, which has been present in Tamaulipas for decades.

Mexico is experiencing a wave of violence linked to organized crime, especially drug cartels that vie for control of the routes to the US.

The rate of violence has grown steadily in the country since the end of 2006, when the government handed the anti-narcotics file to the army. More than 300,000 murders have taken place since that date, according to official figures.

Mexico recorded 34,523 murders in 2020, down slightly from 2019, which was a record year since the government began tracking them in 1997.

Mexico has identified at least four of the 19 bodies found shot and burnt near the US border, prosecutors said Saturday. Two Guatemalans believed to be migrants and two Mexicans were identified by their DNA after authorities discovered the bodies on January 22, the prosecutor’s office in the northern state of Tamaulipas said in a statement.

Mexico has identified at least four of the 19 bodies found shot and burnt near the US border, prosecutors said Saturday. Two Guatemalans believed to be migrants and two Mexicans were identified by their DNA after authorities discovered the bodies on January 22, the prosecutor’s office in the northern state of Tamaulipas said in a statement. It said members of the Interior Ministry’s national search commission had been added to the investigation for "greater transparency", in collaboration with the foreign ministry and the Guatemalan embassy in Mexico. "It was determined that 16 correspond to the male sex, one to the female sex, and two are pending clarification" due to the severity of the burning, the prosecutors said. A team of forensics experts, dentists, geneticists and criminology specialists has been formed to identify the victims. Residents of the Guatemalan town of Comitancillo suspect at least a dozen of the victims are their relatives, according to authorities in the Central American country. Authorities in Tamaulipas, who worked with the neighbouring state of Nuevo Leon, established that 113 bullets were fired into a vehicle where the bodies were found. Tamaulipas, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, is the shortest route to the United States from Guatemala, but it is dangerous because of the presence of gangs that kidnap, extort, and murder migrants. The region is regularly the scene of clashes between the North West cartel, which controls part of Nuevo Leon, and the Gulf cartel, which has been present in Tamaulipas for decades. Mexico is experiencing a wave of violence linked to organized crime, especially drug cartels that vie for control of the routes to the US. The rate of violence has grown steadily in the country since the end of 2006, when the government handed the anti-narcotics file to the army. More than 300,000 murders have taken place since that date, according to official figures. Mexico recorded 34,523 murders in 2020, down slightly from 2019, which was a record year since the government began tracking them in 1997.

Mexico identifies four of 19 bodies found burned near US border

US authorities have discovered an unfinished 1,300-foot (400-meter) tunnel under the US-Mexico border, calling it an unusually sophisticated smuggling route complete with ventilation and a rail system.

The tunnel was found on Tuesday in the desert near San Luis, Arizona by federal agents led by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s investigative arm, the agency said in a press release Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-deaths-in-latin-america-hit-global-high-318953">Also read:&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths in Latin America hit global high</a>

Authorities have located hundreds of tunnels over the years under the Southwest border, saying they are used by drug cartels and criminal organizations to smuggle narcotics, people and weapons back and forth between the two countries.

The tunnel found this week measured 3 feet by 4 feet (91 cm by 1.22 meters) and included a “ventilation system, water lines, electrical wiring, rail system, [and] extensive reinforcement,” ICE said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-nabs-el-marro-fuel-theft-king-blamed-for-surge-in-drug-violence-317702">Also read:&nbsp;Mexico nabs 'El Marro', fuel theft king blamed for surge in drug violence</a>

Federal agents drilled and used underground cameras to investigate the tunnel after discovering a sinkhole near cross-border fencing in mid-July, ICE said.

Carl Landrum, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official, said the tunnel “appears to be the most sophisticated tunnel in U.S. history, and certainly the most sophisticated I’ve seen in my career.” Landrum started with Border Patrol in 1996, according to the agency’s website.

In January this year, CBP announced federal agents had discovered the longest cross-border smuggling tunnel ever found along the Southwest border, originating in Baja California, Mexico. It measured 4,309 feet (1,300 meters).

President Donald Trump has pledged to build a wall on the border with Mexico to stop illegal crossings and drug trafficking, but critics point to tunnels as one way people can get around such a barrier.

US authorities have discovered an unfinished 1,300-foot (400-meter) tunnel under the US-Mexico border, calling it an unusually sophisticated smuggling route complete with ventilation and a rail system.

US authorities have discovered an unfinished 1,300-foot (400-meter) tunnel under the US-Mexico border, calling it an unusually sophisticated smuggling route complete with ventilation and a rail system. The tunnel was found on Tuesday in the desert near San Luis, Arizona by federal agents led by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s investigative arm, the agency said in a press release Friday. Also read: Coronavirus deaths in Latin America hit global high Authorities have located hundreds of tunnels over the years under the Southwest border, saying they are used by drug cartels and criminal organizations to smuggle narcotics, people and weapons back and forth between the two countries. The tunnel found this week measured 3 feet by 4 feet (91 cm by 1.22 meters) and included a “ventilation system, water lines, electrical wiring, rail system, [and] extensive reinforcement,” ICE said. Also read: Mexico nabs 'El Marro', fuel theft king blamed for surge in drug violence Federal agents drilled and used underground cameras to investigate the tunnel after discovering a sinkhole near cross-border fencing in mid-July, ICE said. Carl Landrum, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official, said the tunnel “appears to be the most sophisticated tunnel in U.S. history, and certainly the most sophisticated I’ve seen in my career.” Landrum started with Border Patrol in 1996, according to the agency’s website. In January this year, CBP announced federal agents had discovered the longest cross-border smuggling tunnel ever found along the Southwest border, originating in Baja California, Mexico. It measured 4,309 feet (1,300 meters). President Donald Trump has pledged to build a wall on the border with Mexico to stop illegal crossings and drug trafficking, but critics point to tunnels as one way people can get around such a barrier.

US officials find 'sophisticated' smuggling tunnel on Mexican border

Mexico said Monday it will discuss a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-holds-off-trumps-fire-but-seen-vulnerable-to-new-pressure-225987">"safe third country" agreement with the United States </a>-- in which migrants entering Mexican territory must apply for asylum there rather than the US -- if the flow of undocumented immigrants continues.

Amid speculation about the contents of Mexico's deal to curb migration in order to avert President Donald Trump's threat of tariffs, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said he had rebuffed the US demand for such a measure, but agreed to revisit the matter in 45 days.

"In the meeting with the vice president of the United States, they were insistent on the safe third country issue," Ebrard told a press conference, three days after reaching a last minute deal to avoid punitive tariffs over the surge of Central American migrants arriving at the US-Mexican border.

"We told them -- I think it was the most important achievement of the negotiations -- 'let's set a time period to see if what Mexico is proposing will work, and if not, we'll sit down and see what additional measures'" are needed, he said.

Ebrard, who led the Mexican negotiating team in marathon talks in Washington, spoke as Trump renewed his tariff threat over a secret provision in the deal.

Trump tweeted that part of the deal would require approval by the Mexican Congress -- he did not give details -- and that "if for any reason the approval is not forthcoming, Tariffs will be reinstated!"

The comment came as he fended off criticism over a New York Times report that said the key terms of the migration deal had in fact been agreed on months ago.

Speaking later on CNBC, Trump said the secret provision was "a very powerful tool."

"I'm going to tell you that most people understand -- that the people having to do with borders and illegal immigration and immigration of any kind -- they understand exactly what that is," he said.

"But we purposely said we wouldn't mention it for a little while ... It has to be brought by their legislative body, it's got to be taken to a vote. So we didn't bring it up, but most people know that answer."

Mexico said Monday it will discuss a "safe third country" agreement with the United States -- in which migrants entering Mexican territory must apply for asylum there rather than the US -- if the flow of undocumented immigrants continues.

Mexico said Monday it will discuss a "safe third country" agreement with the United States -- in which migrants entering Mexican territory must apply for asylum there rather than the US -- if the flow of undocumented immigrants continues. Amid speculation about the contents of Mexico's deal to curb migration in order to avert President Donald Trump's threat of tariffs, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said he had rebuffed the US demand for such a measure, but agreed to revisit the matter in 45 days. "In the meeting with the vice president of the United States, they were insistent on the safe third country issue," Ebrard told a press conference, three days after reaching a last minute deal to avoid punitive tariffs over the surge of Central American migrants arriving at the US-Mexican border. "We told them -- I think it was the most important achievement of the negotiations -- 'let's set a time period to see if what Mexico is proposing will work, and if not, we'll sit down and see what additional measures'" are needed, he said. Ebrard, who led the Mexican negotiating team in marathon talks in Washington, spoke as Trump renewed his tariff threat over a secret provision in the deal. Trump tweeted that part of the deal would require approval by the Mexican Congress -- he did not give details -- and that "if for any reason the approval is not forthcoming, Tariffs will be reinstated!" The comment came as he fended off criticism over a New York Times report that said the key terms of the migration deal had in fact been agreed on months ago. Speaking later on CNBC, Trump said the secret provision was "a very powerful tool." "I'm going to tell you that most people understand -- that the people having to do with borders and illegal immigration and immigration of any kind -- they understand exactly what that is," he said. "But we purposely said we wouldn't mention it for a little while ... It has to be brought by their legislative body, it's got to be taken to a vote. So we didn't bring it up, but most people know that answer."

Mexico to discuss 'safe third country' deal with US if migration does not slow

US President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to close the US border with Mexico next week, potentially disrupting millions of legal border crossings and billions of dollars in trade, if Mexico does not stop immigrants from reaching the United States.

"There's a very good likelihood that I'll be closing the border next week, and that will be just fine with me," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Trump has repeatedly said he would close the US border with Mexico during his two years in office and has not followed through. However, this time the government says it is struggling to deal with a surge of asylum seekers from countries in Central America who travel through Mexico.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials warned that traffic with Mexico could slow as the agency shifts 750 border personnel from ports of entry to help process asylum seekers who are turning up between official crossing points.

"Make no mistake: Americans may feel effects from this emergency," Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement. Nielsen said the personnel shift would lead to commercial delays and long waiting times at crossing points.

Some of those delays were already being felt on both sides of the international border.

On Friday afternoon, the wait was longer than usual on the Mexican side of the crossing between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas, with long lines of freight trucks carrying goods from Mexican factories into the United States, according to a Reuters witness. One driver said she had been stuck in line for three hours on her way to her job in the United States.

Nielsen and other US officials say border patrol officers have been overwhelmed by a dramatic increase in asylum seekers, many of them children and families who arrive in large groups fleeing violence and economic hardship in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

March is on track for 100,000 border apprehensions, DHS officials said, which would be the highest monthly number in more than a decade. Most of those people can remain in the United States while their asylum claims are processed, which can take years because of ballooning immigration court backlogs.

Nielsen warned Congress on Thursday that the government faces a "system-wide meltdown" as it tries to care for more than 1,200 unaccompanied children and 6,600 migrant families in its custody.

Mexico played down the possibility of a border shutdown.

"Mexico does not act on the basis of threats. We are a great neighbour," Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter.

Mexican Senator Ricardo Monreal, who leads President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's party in the chamber, said in a statement on Friday he would seek to send a diplomatic note to the US Congress criticizing what he called Trump's "xenophobic attitudes."

US President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to close the US border with Mexico next week, potentially disrupting millions of legal border crossings and billions of dollars in trade, if Mexico does not stop immigrants from reaching the United States.

US President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to close the US border with Mexico next week, potentially disrupting millions of legal border crossings and billions of dollars in trade, if Mexico does not stop immigrants from reaching the United States. "There's a very good likelihood that I'll be closing the border next week, and that will be just fine with me," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Trump has repeatedly said he would close the US border with Mexico during his two years in office and has not followed through. However, this time the government says it is struggling to deal with a surge of asylum seekers from countries in Central America who travel through Mexico. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials warned that traffic with Mexico could slow as the agency shifts 750 border personnel from ports of entry to help process asylum seekers who are turning up between official crossing points. "Make no mistake: Americans may feel effects from this emergency," Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement. Nielsen said the personnel shift would lead to commercial delays and long waiting times at crossing points. Some of those delays were already being felt on both sides of the international border. On Friday afternoon, the wait was longer than usual on the Mexican side of the crossing between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas, with long lines of freight trucks carrying goods from Mexican factories into the United States, according to a Reuters witness. One driver said she had been stuck in line for three hours on her way to her job in the United States. Nielsen and other US officials say border patrol officers have been overwhelmed by a dramatic increase in asylum seekers, many of them children and families who arrive in large groups fleeing violence and economic hardship in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. March is on track for 100,000 border apprehensions, DHS officials said, which would be the highest monthly number in more than a decade. Most of those people can remain in the United States while their asylum claims are processed, which can take years because of ballooning immigration court backlogs. Nielsen warned Congress on Thursday that the government faces a "system-wide meltdown" as it tries to care for more than 1,200 unaccompanied children and 6,600 migrant families in its custody. Mexico played down the possibility of a border shutdown. "Mexico does not act on the basis of threats. We are a great neighbour," Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter. Mexican Senator Ricardo Monreal, who leads President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's party in the chamber, said in a statement on Friday he would seek to send a diplomatic note to the US Congress criticizing what he called Trump's "xenophobic attitudes."

Trump threatens closure of US-Mexico border next week to stem asylum surge

Trump vetoes lawmakers' measure against border wall

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-makes-his-case-for-nobel-peace-prize-complains-hell-never-get-it-197683">President Donald Trump</a>'s declaration of an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-declares-us-mexico-border-emergency-democrats-protest-197678">emergency Friday to build a border wall</a> immediately drew legal challenges that could easily escalate into a landmark test of the balance of power between the White House and Congress.

Legal experts said it was "unprecedented" for a president to use his emergency powers to overcome Congress's refusal to fund his wishes, in this case, a barrier on the US-Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants.

They also questioned Trump's categorization of the immigration issue as a national emergency and his tapping military funds for a non-military project.

Hours after the announcement, the Trump administration faced an investigation by the House Judiciary committee and lawsuits from New York, California and the American Civil Liberties Union.

"President Trump is manufacturing a crisis and declaring a made-up 'national emergency' in order to seize power and subvert the constitution," said California Governor Gavin Newsome.

"California will see you in court."

Trump said he expected a legal fight and predicted he would prevail.

"We will have a national emergency, and we will then be sued," Trump said Friday.

"Then we will end up in the Supreme Court, and hopefully we will get a fair shake, and we'll win in the Supreme Court."

Dangerous precedent&nbsp;

Trump invoked the 1976 National Emergencies Act after Congress refused to allocate his requested $5.7 billion for a wall in a spending bill.&nbsp;

The White House says the emergency order empowers it to pull around $6.6 billion from other sources, mostly already-allocated funds in the Defense Department budget.

Democrats accused the president of an unconstitutional power grab.

"The president's actions clearly violate the Congress's exclusive power of the purse," Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leaders in Congress, said in a joint statement.

It is a precedent-setting move, said American University law professor Jennifer Daskal, adding that the National Emergencies Act had "never been used in that way, for good reason."&nbsp;

Critics warn that Trump opened the door for future presidents to call on the act whenever they fail to get their way with Congress. A frustrated Democratic president might someday invoke it to get funds to fight ongoing "emergencies" of climate change and gun proliferation.

The White House dismissed this argument, underscoring how a court showdown might proceed.

"This actually creates zero precedent. This is authority given to the president in law already," said acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

"It's not as if he just didn't get what he wanted, so he is waving a magic wand and taking a bunch of money."

A real 'emergency'?&nbsp;

Any legal battle will focus on the definition of "emergency."

The emergencies act "does not provide any explicit limitations on what does and does not constitute a national emergency," Daskal told AFP.

Previous governments have declared emergencies based on the act due to immediate threats such as the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 2009 outbreak of swine flu.

Trump said the emergency now is the flow of drugs and violent criminals across the border.

In the abstract, he appears within his rights.

However, said Bobby Chesney, the associate dean at the University of Texas School of Law, "litigation won't be in abstract."

"The pretext issue looms large here," he said in a comment on Twitter.&nbsp;

He was referring to the problem of Trump resorting to declaring the border issue an emergency after spending two years in a losing political battle for wall funding.

Trump himself appeared to undermine his argument as he announced the emergency on Friday.

"I didn't need to do this, but I'd rather do it much faster," he said.

Land, military issues&nbsp;

Daskal expects border landowners also to sue to protect their property rights.

"A lot of the land that's at issue is not federal land, it's private land," she said.

Chesney points to a challenge over the use of military funds. Defense Department rules say that, even if diverted, construction funds must be for a project that "requires the use of the armed forces."

The wall, however, has been cast from the outset as a civilian project.

"That is the main point of litigation vulnerability," said Chesney.

President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency Friday to build a border wall immediately drew legal challenges that could easily escalate into a landmark test of the balance of power between the White House and Congress.

President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency Friday to build a border wall immediately drew legal challenges that could easily escalate into a landmark test of the balance of power between the White House and Congress. Legal experts said it was "unprecedented" for a president to use his emergency powers to overcome Congress's refusal to fund his wishes, in this case, a barrier on the US-Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants. They also questioned Trump's categorization of the immigration issue as a national emergency and his tapping military funds for a non-military project. Hours after the announcement, the Trump administration faced an investigation by the House Judiciary committee and lawsuits from New York, California and the American Civil Liberties Union. "President Trump is manufacturing a crisis and declaring a made-up 'national emergency' in order to seize power and subvert the constitution," said California Governor Gavin Newsome. "California will see you in court." Trump said he expected a legal fight and predicted he would prevail. "We will have a national emergency, and we will then be sued," Trump said Friday. "Then we will end up in the Supreme Court, and hopefully we will get a fair shake, and we'll win in the Supreme Court." Dangerous precedent Trump invoked the 1976 National Emergencies Act after Congress refused to allocate his requested $5.7 billion for a wall in a spending bill. The White House says the emergency order empowers it to pull around $6.6 billion from other sources, mostly already-allocated funds in the Defense Department budget. Democrats accused the president of an unconstitutional power grab. "The president's actions clearly violate the Congress's exclusive power of the purse," Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leaders in Congress, said in a joint statement. It is a precedent-setting move, said American University law professor Jennifer Daskal, adding that the National Emergencies Act had "never been used in that way, for good reason." Critics warn that Trump opened the door for future presidents to call on the act whenever they fail to get their way with Congress. A frustrated Democratic president might someday invoke it to get funds to fight ongoing "emergencies" of climate change and gun proliferation. The White House dismissed this argument, underscoring how a court showdown might proceed. "This actually creates zero precedent. This is authority given to the president in law already," said acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. "It's not as if he just didn't get what he wanted, so he is waving a magic wand and taking a bunch of money." A real 'emergency'? Any legal battle will focus on the definition of "emergency." The emergencies act "does not provide any explicit limitations on what does and does not constitute a national emergency," Daskal told AFP. Previous governments have declared emergencies based on the act due to immediate threats such as the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 2009 outbreak of swine flu. Trump said the emergency now is the flow of drugs and violent criminals across the border. In the abstract, he appears within his rights. However, said Bobby Chesney, the associate dean at the University of Texas School of Law, "litigation won't be in abstract." "The pretext issue looms large here," he said in a comment on Twitter. He was referring to the problem of Trump resorting to declaring the border issue an emergency after spending two years in a losing political battle for wall funding. Trump himself appeared to undermine his argument as he announced the emergency on Friday. "I didn't need to do this, but I'd rather do it much faster," he said. Land, military issues Daskal expects border landowners also to sue to protect their property rights. "A lot of the land that's at issue is not federal land, it's private land," she said. Chesney points to a challenge over the use of military funds. Defense Department rules say that, even if diverted, construction funds must be for a project that "requires the use of the armed forces." The wall, however, has been cast from the outset as a civilian project. "That is the main point of litigation vulnerability," said Chesney.

Trump's border wall 'emergency' faces tough legal hurdles

Donald Trump declares national emergency to signs border wall deal

California pulls out troops from Mexico border

President Trump said today the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shutdown-may-go-into-new-year-top-trump-aide-mulvaney-186044">US government won't open</a> till he gets approval for the Mexican border wall.

The US governmental agencies <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shutdown-may-affect-800000-federal-employees-185772">have been </a><a class="gr-progress" href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shutdown-may-affect-800000-federal-employees-185772">shutdown</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shutdown-may-affect-800000-federal-employees-185772"> for the past four days</a> with no breakthrough in sight after Democrats failed to convince the US president to pass a legislation to keep the government working.

"I can't tell you when the government is going to reopen," Trump said while speaking on Christmas Day via video conferencing with US troops serving abroad.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I am in the Oval Office &amp; just gave out a 115 mile long contract for another large section of the Wall in Texas. We are already building and renovating many miles of Wall, some complete. Democrats must end Shutdown and finish funding. Billions of Dollars, &amp; lives, will be saved!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1077329121745793025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The US government has been partially shutdown since Saturday as Democrats have openly sparred with the US president over the Mexican border wall, a key campaign issue for the president which he is determined to fulfil.

"It's Christmas Eve and President Trump is plunging the country into chaos," Schumer and Pelosi said in a joint statement as the shutdown dragged on. Trump, in fact, cancelled plans to go to his Florida resort for Christmas because of the shutdown.

Trump told the troops that he would visit that stretch of the border "at the end of January for the start of construction."

"It's going to be built, hopefully rapidly," he added.&nbsp;"It's going to all work out," the US president said.

Trump has demanded $ 5 billion for the Mexican border wall but the Democrats have signed up for $1.3 billion riling the president who is determined to get the border wall funding.

"I can tell you it's not going to reopen until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it. I'll call it whatever they want, but it's all the same thing. It's a barrier from people pouring into the country, from drugs," the president said, adding,"If you don't have that (the wall), then we're just not opening."&nbsp;

Trump's budget director and White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney had said earlier that the White House had made a counter-offer to Democrats on border security while media reports said vice-president Mike Pence had proposed $2.1 billion in funding in a meeting with Schumer earlier.

However, no breakthrough seems on sight as the government shutdown enters the fifth day on Wednesday.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AWyBLN8u128" width="560"></iframe>

President Trump said today the US government won't open till he gets approval for the Mexican border wall. The US governmental agencies have been shutdown for the past four days with no breakthrough in sight after Democrats failed to convince the US president to pass a legislation to keep the government working.

President Trump said today the US government won't open till he gets approval for the Mexican border wall. The US governmental agencies have been shutdown for the past four days with no breakthrough in sight after Democrats failed to convince the US president to pass a legislation to keep the government working. "I can't tell you when the government is going to reopen," Trump said while speaking on Christmas Day via video conferencing with US troops serving abroad. I am in the Oval Office & just gave out a 115 mile long contract for another large section of the Wall in Texas. We are already building and renovating many miles of Wall, some complete. Democrats must end Shutdown and finish funding. Billions of Dollars, & lives, will be saved! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018 × The US government has been partially shutdown since Saturday as Democrats have openly sparred with the US president over the Mexican border wall, a key campaign issue for the president which he is determined to fulfil. "It's Christmas Eve and President Trump is plunging the country into chaos," Schumer and Pelosi said in a joint statement as the shutdown dragged on. Trump, in fact, cancelled plans to go to his Florida resort for Christmas because of the shutdown. Trump told the troops that he would visit that stretch of the border "at the end of January for the start of construction." "It's going to be built, hopefully rapidly," he added. "It's going to all work out," the US president said. Trump has demanded $ 5 billion for the Mexican border wall but the Democrats have signed up for $1.3 billion riling the president who is determined to get the border wall funding. "I can tell you it's not going to reopen until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it. I'll call it whatever they want, but it's all the same thing. It's a barrier from people pouring into the country, from drugs," the president said, adding,"If you don't have that (the wall), then we're just not opening." Trump's budget director and White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney had said earlier that the White House had made a counter-offer to Democrats on border security while media reports said vice-president Mike Pence had proposed $2.1 billion in funding in a meeting with Schumer earlier. However, no breakthrough seems on sight as the government shutdown enters the fifth day on Wednesday.

Government will not reopen until we have the Mexican border wall: Trump to US troops

WION Gravitas: Donald Trump defends using tear gas on migrants

As President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-renews-threat-to-close-us-border-with-mexico-178844">Trump threatened to close </a>the US-Mexico border, hundreds of Central American migrants walked towards Tijuana San Ysidro crossing point from Tijuana into California as tensions mounted over the asylum issue in the US border town.

"If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," Trump said as migrants sought to cross the border.

"The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," the US president added.

The migrants were protesting the slow process of visa application amid calls by migrant leaders to cross the border. As tensions rose border officials and human rights activists intervened to prevent the border crossing.

The migrants comprising of people belonging mainly from Honduras, &nbsp;El Salvador and Guatemala have walked nearly 4,400 kilometres are now at the US doorstep. 
Authorities in Tijuana have set up a job fair in an attempt to recruit skilled workers as Mexico continues to house them.

Mexico deployed riot police as officials predicted that upto 10,000 Central American migrants could gather at the northern border crossing points of Tijuana and Mexicali.

President has branded the migrants as dangerous, even calling it as an act of invasion derisively naming them "migrant caravan". The US president had said border guards could use bullets to prevent crossing leading to large-scale criticism.

There are already over 5,000 US guards patrolling the border with the numbers set to swell in the months ahead.&nbsp;

As President Trump threatened to close the US-Mexico border, hundreds of Central American migrants walked towards Tijuana San Ysidro crossing point from Tijuana into California as tensions mounted over the asylum issue in the US border town.

As President Trump threatened to close the US-Mexico border, hundreds of Central American migrants walked towards Tijuana San Ysidro crossing point from Tijuana into California as tensions mounted over the asylum issue in the US border town. "If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," Trump said as migrants sought to cross the border. "The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," the US president added. The migrants were protesting the slow process of visa application amid calls by migrant leaders to cross the border. As tensions rose border officials and human rights activists intervened to prevent the border crossing. The migrants comprising of people belonging mainly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have walked nearly 4,400 kilometres are now at the US doorstep. Authorities in Tijuana have set up a job fair in an attempt to recruit skilled workers as Mexico continues to house them. Mexico deployed riot police as officials predicted that upto 10,000 Central American migrants could gather at the northern border crossing points of Tijuana and Mexicali. President has branded the migrants as dangerous, even calling it as an act of invasion derisively naming them "migrant caravan". The US president had said border guards could use bullets to prevent crossing leading to large-scale criticism. There are already over 5,000 US guards patrolling the border with the numbers set to swell in the months ahead.

Migrants attempt to cross border as Trump threatens to temporarily close US-Mexico border