Acting Homeland Security chief: Mexico must step up on immigration

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan on Sunday said Mexico needs to “step up and do more” to address the crisis at the border following President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Mexican exports over the issue.

“We need them at the table looking at new strategies that we can aggressively move out on,” McAleenan said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union with Jake Tapper.”

McAleenan in the past has acknowledged a stronger economy could help a country like Mexico deal with the migration of people to the United States, but dodged questions Sunday about whether hurting Mexico’s economy with the tariffs would be ineffective.

{mosads}”We’ve got a situation we need to address in partnership with Mexico,” McAlleenan said.  

Trump on Thursday announced a 5 percent tariff beginning June 10 on all Mexican imports “until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP.”

The announcement came via Twitter, has has drawn ire from his own party.

Senate Finance Committee Chairmen Chuck Grassely (R-Iowa) said “trade policy and border security are separate issues,” and called the tariffs a misuse of presidential authority.