Trump threatens tariffs on Mexico and Canada over immigration issues

President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, blaming them for illegal immigration and drug smuggling. This announcement echoes his previous campaign rhetoric about border security and crime. Border Patrol arrests at the southern border have decreased significantly this year, with 56,530 arrests in October, a four-year low. This contrasts with nearly a quarter of a million arrests in December 2023, highlighting a shift in enforcement and asylum policies. While Trump links immigration to crime, studies show that immigrants generally have lower crime rates than native-born citizens. Most fentanyl smuggling is done by American citizens, despite the perception that immigrants are responsible for the drug crisis.