White House warns on caravans: Border closure stays
President Trump threatened to double tariffs on Mexico if new migrant groups reach the U.S. border, a move defended by border officials despite Democratic gains in the midterm elections.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
The White House issued an official statement on Thursday, November 12, 2026, warning of new migrant caravans moving north through Mexico. The document asserts that the Trump administration will maintain its current border closure strategy despite recent shifts in legislative and state control. The Executive Branch attributed the mobilization of migrants to recent promises by Democratic leaders to reduce operations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
President Trump included direct warnings in the release, threatening immediate commercial retaliation against Mexico if the groups advance to the southern border. He stated that large caravans are forming and beginning an illegal march across the country. "Mexico must stop them, now, and if it does not, tariffs on Mexico will be doubled immediately," the President wrote. He emphasized that there would be no indulgence for the advancing groups.
Tom Homan, the White House border czar, reinforced the federal stance in the same document. He noted that while Congress and Texas may now have more Democratic leadership, the White House remains firmly Republican. "These caravans can come to the border as much as they want. They are not going to be released into the United States," Homan said. James Percival, the general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, also supported the position, confirming that Border Patrol remains deployed at the line.
The statement reviewed comments from Democratic legislators made after the midterm elections. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for an end to what he described as the violent machinery of mass deportation. Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramírez, Rashida Tlaib, and Pramila Jayapal advocated for restructuring or abolishing ICE and extending broader migratory protections. The document linked these policy shifts to the motivation behind the new migrant movements.
The report detailed changes in local cooperation policies in Texas following the election victories of Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa and Lieutenant Governor-elect Vikki Goodwin. Mayors in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin issued statements indicating they are reviewing local protocols for collaboration with federal immigration agencies. The White House document noted that these local adjustments are part of the new political landscape influencing border dynamics.
The administration’s position remains that federal containment policies will not change regardless of state-level leadership shifts. The threat to double tariffs serves as the primary lever the President cited to ensure Mexico halts the caravans. The statement concludes with the confirmation that federal agencies are ready to enforce the current status quo at the border.
