Mexican immigration officials in the city of Matamoros have begun clearing out a migrant tent camp near the Rio Grande, signaling their intention to address the growing influx of migrants reaching the U.S. border. This action comes as the United States increases pressure on Mexico to take further measures to curb the flow of migrants boarding freight cars, buses, and trucks to reach the border.

Recent developments include the temporary closure of key border rail crossings into Texas by the United States, prompting Mexico to take action. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed that he received a concerned phone call from U.S. President Joe Biden on December 20 regarding the unprecedented number of migrants arriving at the border. López Obrador stated that they agreed to search for a solution together.

To demonstrate their commitment, Mexico has intensified its efforts to detain migrants. López Obrador announced that Mexican detentions rose from about 8,000 per day on December 16 to approximately 9,500 on December 25. This increase in enforcement was witnessed in Matamoros, where the clearance operation took place while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with López Obrador in Mexico City.

The encampment in Matamoros, which was once home to as many as 1,500 migrants, has dwindled in recent months as individuals have attempted to enter the United States by wading across the Rio Grande. Mexican immigration authorities claim that the tents being cleared were abandoned. However, some remaining migrants have alleged that they were forced to leave when the clearance operation commenced, with only short notice given to relocate their belongings. They felt intimidated by the presence of heavy machinery and described feeling compelled to run for their safety.

While some migrants have moved to a fenced-in area within the encampment, fear still persists. On Tuesday night, around 70 migrants crossed into the U.S. by flinging themselves into the river, despite being temporarily trapped along the riverbank due to the Texas governor’s order to install concertina wire. With limited options available, Glady Cañas, founder of the Matamoros-based nongovernmental group Ayudandoles a Triunfar (Helping Them Win), urged migrants to avoid illegal crossings due to the risks, including recent drownings.

The surge in migrant arrivals has posed challenges for the United States, leading to difficulties in processing and housing them. This month alone, as many as 10,000 migrants were arrested daily on the southwest U.S. border. In response, the U.S. briefly closed critical railway crossings in Texas, impacting Mexican industries and disrupting the transportation of goods and resources.

During the meeting between López Obrador and U.S. officials, the focus was on reopening border crossings. López Obrador emphasized the importance of not closing the crossings, stating that the rail crossings have started to reopen and the border bridges are returning to normal operations. Mexico already has over 32,000 soldiers and National Guard troopers devoted to enforcing immigration laws, representing about 11% of its total forces, but recent incidents at immigration inspection points have raised concerns about enforcement shortcomings.

As the situation continues to evolve, López Obrador expressed his willingness to assist but urged the United States to provide more development aid to migrants' home countries, ease sanctions on countries like Cuba and Venezuela, and initiate a dialogue with Cuba. These proposed measures could help address the root causes of migration and diminish the need for desperate journeys.