Marco Rubio heads to Central America in the middle of immigration tensions

State Secretary Marco Rubio is on his way to Central America on his first overseas journey this weekend as he aims to tackle illegal immigration and reinforce Trump administration’s push to regain US control of the Panama Canal.

Newsweek has reached out to the US State Department via Online E -Mail form for comment.

Why it matters

Rubio’s decision to prioritize Latin America rather than the traditional first stops in Europe or Asia signalize the white house’s intention to focus foreign policy and homing in the region as immigration stays at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Trump has made immigration a central theme in his presidential campaign, and Americans are largely supporting his mass portion plans.

ONE New York timeS/IPSOS votingPerformed from 2 to 10 January, found that 55 percent of voters strongly or something supported such plans. Twenty -eight percent supported “Department of immigrants who are here illegal and have criminal items.” Large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the immigration system is broken.

Rubio’s arrival in the region follows the recent tensions of immigration specifically with Colombia as a conflict between the two countries broke out as the United States threatened to plant duty against Bogotá after the country returned to the US military aircraft transporting deported citizens.

What to know

While Rubio’s Travel Plan also includes visits to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, visits are expected to be up-ed. The Wall Street Journal On Friday.

“It’s no coincidence that my first trip abroad as a secretary of state will keep me in the hemisphere,” Rubio wrote in his up-ed.

In addition, Rubio said he is aiming to warn against China, which he accused of exploiting diplomatic and financial influence in Latin America, especially through its investments in the Panama Canal.

“All the time, the Chinese Communist Party uses diplomatic and economic leverage – such as by the Panama channel – to oppose the United States and transform sovereign nations into vasal states,” the secretary of the state wrote.

Concerns about the Panama Canal came after Trump threatened to regain the Panama Canal, a large maritime trade hub, over what the president called excessive charges on the United States triggered the setback of the country controlling the channel for more than a quarter of a century.

In the meantime, a protest in Panama has already been seen in front of Rubio’s arrival, according to the Canadian press, in which it was exposed to a protest breaking out on Friday.

Panama’s pushback

According to the US State Department, Rubio’s first stop will be Panama, where President José Raúl Mulino has already made it clear that there is no room for negotiations on the channel’s ownership.

“The channel belongs to Panama,” Mulino said on Thursday, expressing hope that the visit would instead focus on common concerns such as migration and drug trafficking.

Despite Mulino’s attitude, Rubio intends to push the question and refer to growing concern over China’s presence at both the Pacific and the Caribbean entrances to the channel.

In a recent interview with Siriusxm’s Megyn Kelly, Rubio emphasized that Trump’s push to regain control is rooted in national security. “We will address this topic,” Rubio said. “The president has been pretty aware that he will administer the channel again. Obviously, the Panamans are not big fans of this idea. This message has been brought very clearly.”

Peking’s commitment to Panamana infrastructure has given rise to us concerns that China could prevent traffic through the channel in a potential crisis. Rubio warned that such a step would violate the 1977 Treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter, who facilitated the possible transfer of control to Panama in 1999.

What people say

President Donald Trump said in his initial address: “The purpose of our agreement and the spirit of our treaty has been completely violated. US ships become severely over -charged and are not treated in any way, form or form. And that includes the US Navy. And above all, China is operating Panama -The channel.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning said Wednesday: “China has not participated in the management and operation of the channel, has never interfered in the channel’s affairs, has always respected Panama’s sovereignty over the channel and recognizes the channel as a permanently neutral international waterway.”

Panama -President José Raúl Mulino said last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: “We reject in its entirety everything Mr. Trump has said. First, because it’s false. And secondly, because the Panama channel belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama. The Panama Canal was not an admission or a gift from The United States.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on x, former twitter, last week: “You will never see me burning an American flag or performing a raid to return hand -knew illegal immigrants to the United States. Real libertarians will never attack human freedom. We are the opposite of the Nazis.”

What happens next

While direct American recycling of the channel remains unlikely, some analysts suggest that an intermediate ground could be reached as Panama is already undergoing a controversial 25-year contract that has not contributed to Hong Kong-based Hutchison ports operating key facilities in the channel.

A potential rebidding process can open the door to an American or European company to take over operations – a trait that can satisfy some of Trump’s concerns, though it remains unclear if the administration would see this as a sufficient admission.