Kristi Noem has gone and been replaced by Markwayne Mullin, a former US Senator from Oklahoma: internal border issues seem quieter. No doubt President Trump has urged Mullin to maintain a lower process.
The issues now are legislative and political and, in the end, I see this becoming more dangerous for the leadership of Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum.
First, there is the Raices versus Mullin case which was decided by the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia on April 24, 2026. This case reaffirmed the earlier District Court decision rejecting President Trump’s claim that migrants entering into the United States were “engaged in the invasion across the southern border.” The goal was to use this as a way to completely shut down asylum claims but the District Court rejected it and that decision has now been affirmed by the Circuit Court.
This seems like a victory for those who push for asylum rights but I wonder if Trump will appeal the decision.
Second on the agenda was Mullin versus Doe, the case involving Temporary Protected Status (TPS) which was argued before the U S Supreme Court on April 29, 2026. This case does not relate to Mexico – it’s focused on Haitians and Syrians. It could, however, lead to affecting a massive number of migrants, far more than the number of Haitians and Syrians, another way of affirming the decision to keep all migrants out.
The Congress enacted this TPS document in 1990 and it was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. It has been a powerful force helping the citizens of many countries that have been afflicted by war or other damages. President Biden expanded it rapidly by letting in 1.4 million immigrants; This has been under attack going back to President Trump’s first term.
Some of the news is good. A 2017 report shows that 94% of these migrants are actually working and that they contribute more than 4 billion in taxes.
Then there was the April 30 passage of the Appropriations bill which allocated huge new funds to Homeland Security. How much will go to the walls between the US and Mexico?
The lower slopes of Monte Cristo Rey at dawn. (Photo: Morgan Smith)
I mention this because the border expenses seem exorbitant. Take the area between Sunland Park, New Mexico and Anapra, Mexico. We first went there on May 17, 2019 and there was no wall behind the end of Anapa and up the side of Monte Cristo Rey. The following day I saw a group of migrants coming through that location.
Since then, the Border Patrol has:
Built a road up the mountain so that they can see migrants on the Anapra side.
Erected Normandy-style barriers up the hill to discourage riders.
Now they plan to build a wall up the mountain.
In addition, the wall headed towards Santa Teresa has reinforcing bollards now as well as concertina wire on the top
There is now a US military Striker vehicle there.
Lastly, there is a second wall being built.
How much security is enough?
Last is a more recent and increasingly public crisis for Mexico. At issue is the case of Rubén Rocha Moya, the Governor of the state of Sinaloa. US authorities have indicted him and nine other government officials, claiming that they had evidence that the ten of them had been involved with the Sinaloa cartel, the cartel that Chapo Guzman once led. The indictment also shows that Rocha Moya once met with Chapo’s two sons, referred to as Los Chapitos. They promised to help him become Governor if he would, in turn, allow access to continued drug smuggling.
The two sons are now in US custody.
Stryker and soldiers. (Photo: Morgan Smith)
This is one of the first cases where the focus has been on government officials rather than on drug dealers. What should President Claudia Sheinbaum do when her choices are either to obey the United States and agree to the indictment of these ten, or hold her position and claim that there isn’t enough evidence to justify the arrests?
It’s a brutally difficult decision but she has chosen to stand with her people and claim that these US indictments aren’t sufficient and that the US shouldn’t be interfering with Mexican sovereignty.
I see all these actions as a way of “tightening the screws” on Mexico. President Trump was “soft” on Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador ( AMLO) but he has been much tougher on the more aggressive Sheinbaum. Where will this end?
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by New Mexico-based writer Morgan Smith. Smith writes on border issues and can be reached at Morgan-smith@comcast.net
