President Trump took to Twitter on Monday to float the idea of making tougher border security a condition of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
“Mexico, whose laws on immigration are very tough, must stop people from going through Mexico and into the U.S. We may make this a condition of the new NAFTA Agreement. Our Country cannot accept what is happening! Also, we must get Wall funding fast,” the president tweeted.
The U.S., Canada and Mexico are continuing eight months of negotiations to update the NAFTA agreement. Mexico is keen to finalize the agreement before July 1 so it can avoid the matter becoming a topic in its upcoming presidential election.
In February, CBP reported that attempted illegal border crossings had risen to 36,695 from 23,555 in February of the previous year.