Trump plans tariffs on Mexico and Canada citing immigration concerns as border crossings decline

President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, citing concerns over border security and crime linked to immigration. This rhetoric echoes themes from his previous campaigns. Border crossings have decreased this year, with 56,530 arrests in October, a four-year low. This contrasts sharply with December 2023, when arrests peaked at around 250,000. Stricter enforcement in Mexico and new U.S. asylum restrictions contributed to this decline. While Trump links immigration to crime, studies show that undocumented immigrants have lower crime rates than native-born citizens. Additionally, most fentanyl smuggling is done by American citizens, despite the drug's origins in Mexico.