Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her government intends to prohibit advertisements from the US Department of Homeland Security, which have been broadcast across the country in recent weeks and feature Secretary Kristi Noem warning migrants not to enter the country illegally.
In one 30-second commercial, Noem appears in a light purple suit and says, “If you are a criminal alien considering entering America illegally, don’t even think about it.”
She goes on to say that if migrants violate US law, “We will hunt you down.”
Mexico’s president has condemned the advertisements, which have aired during soccer matches and primetime programming, as “discriminatory.”
On Tuesday, her government sent reform proposals to lawmakers, prohibiting foreign governments from spreading political and ideological propaganda in the country.
“We do not agree with the discriminatory propaganda against the migrant population that has been broadcast on television, radio, and social media by the United States government,” Sheinbaum told reporters.
When asked for comment on Mexico’s response, the DHS told CNN that its “ad campaign is working.”
“The data indicates that the world is hearing our message. Border crossings have dropped to their lowest level ever recorded,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in an email. “Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, we have the most secure border in history.”
The US advertisements are part of a multimillion-dollar messaging campaign aimed at discouraging illegal immigration to the United States. The DHS claims the videos are “hyper-targeted” at undocumented immigrants and will be distributed domestically and internationally via TV, radio, social media, and text messages.
In another series of advertisements released on Monday, Noem is seen telling undocumented immigrants to self-deport or face significant fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
She also claims that the Trump administration has already deported tens of thousands of migrants, including those accused of rape, murder, and the production of child pornography. CNN was unable to confirm Noem’s claims. Families of some deportees previously told CNN that their loved ones had no criminal records.
Drawing the line at political ‘propaganda’
Sheinbaum argued this week that there is precedent for such a ban, citing a previous article in Mexico’s telecommunications law that prohibited domestic media from disseminating foreign political propaganda, which was removed during a previous administration.
“I have requested an investigation into how that article was removed,” she said at a morning news conference on Monday. “But we think our sovereignty and respect for Mexico deserve reinserting that article into the law.”
Gerardo Fernández Noroña, President of the Senate, stated on Tuesday that Sheinbaum’s measure will be expedited and sent to the Chamber of Deputies soon.
Fernández Noroña stated that the reinstatement is supported by all parliamentary groups.
Sheinbaum insisted that Mexico would continue to allow countries to run ads promoting tourism and culture, but would prohibit political “propaganda.”
“If any country in the world wishes to promote itself in our country or us in another country, there will be no problem. “The problem is government propaganda, as well as acts that we consider discriminatory,” she said on Tuesday.
Mexico’s anti-discrimination agency said it sent a letter to broadcasters last week asking them to stop airing the TV commercial.
“Based on our analysis, we discovered that the spot contains a discriminatory message that violates human dignity and may encourage acts of rejection or violence against people on the move,” the letter from the National Council to Prevent Discrimination stated.
