Photo: Wikimedia Commons

By KELIN DILLON

On Monday, Jan. 20, U.S. President Donald J. Trump was officially inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States and proceeded to make a series of immediate moves set to directly impact Mexico and its relations with the United States.

First and foremost, on his first day back in office, President Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border to tackle one of the federal executive’s primary campaign promises: immigration. 

He ordered the deployment of troops to combat the so-called “invasion of the southern border” and announced plans to resume construction of the controversial border wall.

Likewise, any undocumented migrant caught crossing into the United States from Mexico will immediately be detained and deported under Trump’s new policies, ending the Biden-era “catch and release” programs.

Trump also reinstated his “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico during the processing of their U.S. asylum claims.

Next, the federal executive signed an executive order to end U.S. birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, a move likely to face legal challenges due to its constitutional implications.

“That’s a big one,” Trump purportedly said when signing the order.

He went on to sign an executive order declaring Mexican cartels as terrorist groups that pose a risk to U.S. national security and didn’t rule out the possibility of sending in special forces teams from the United States to fight Mexico’s organized crime – particularly at the border.

Finally, Trump reiterated his intent to place 25 percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods, which are economic policies that the president said would be ready for implementation on Feb. 1.