Tuesday, January 2

• U.S. to Reopen Border Crossings: The U.S. announced the reopening of four legal U.S.-Mexico border crossings as levels of illegal immigration receded, freeing up personnel. These include an international bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas, two crossings in Arizona, and another near San Diego, California. This move was to prioritize border security as necessary.
• Record Migrant Apprehensions: U.S. border authorities reported near-record high migrant apprehensions in December, with nearly 11,000 apprehensions in a single day. Ongoing talks were reported about a deal to combine increased border security measures with foreign aid, including military funding for Ukraine.

Wednesday, January 3

• Mexico-U.S. Cooperation on Migration: Following discussions between top U.S. officials and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico pledged to work closely with the U.S. to tackle migration. This included stepping up immigration enforcement, moving migrants to southern Mexico, and resuming deportation flights to Venezuela.
• Mexico Cheers Border Reopening: Mexico expressed approval of the U.S.’s decision to reopen border crossings, highlighting the economic benefits for both countries.

Thursday, January 4

• New York City Sues Texas Transport Companies: New York City filed a lawsuit against 17 bus and transportation companies contracted by Texas to transport migrants to the city. The city sought $708 million in damages, equating to the costs spent on sheltering migrants. The lawsuit criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s use of migrants in his immigration policies.

Friday, January 5

• Mexico’s Enhanced Migration Containment Measures: Mexican President Lopez Obrador announced the reinforcement of measures to contain migration to help the U.S. with the influx of migrants. This statement followed a discussion with U.S. President Joe Biden, focusing on enforcement at the shared border.
• Mexico Relocates Migrants: Mexico’s Coahuila state moved a group of migrants from Piedras Negras to Villahermosa in southern Mexico for deportation to their countries of origin.
• U.S.-Mexico High-Level Meeting Planned: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas were scheduled to visit Mexico to discuss migration issues.

Weekend, January 6-7

• U.S. Border Security and Immigration Deal Discussions: U.S. lawmakers, including Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), discussed a potential border and immigration deal. The deal, aimed to raise the standard for claiming asylum, might include new expulsion and enforcement authorities and significant resources for border adjudication and staffing.
• Challenges in Reaching an Immigration Agreement: Despite progress, there were still unresolved issues related to interior immigration enforcement, the president’s parole authority, and new expulsion provisions. The deal faced criticism from both progressives and conservatives, adding complexity to the negotiation process.

Summary

The week was marked by significant developments in U.S. and Mexican immigration policies and actions. These ranged from reopening border crossings and lawsuits against transport companies, to high-level negotiations for a potential immigration deal involving border security and asylum standards.