California-Mexico border
California-Mexico borderiStock

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebard on Monday said the country might take additional steps to reduce the number of migrants moving through Mexico on their way to the US border.

Hinting that asylum seekers may need to remain in the first country they reach after leaving their own, Ebard said, "If the measures we are proposing are not successful, we have to discuss with the United States and with other countries, like Guatemala, Panama and Brazil."

"It is a regional system. If we have to participate in a regional model like the one I have just described, we would have to present that to Congress."

Last week, Mexico and the US agreed on a deal to handle illegal immigration into the US by Central Americans. Under the deal, Mexico will tighten its border with Guatemala and Mexicans applying for asylum in the US will remain in Mexico until the process is completed. In addition, illegal immigrants who crossed the US border from Mexico will be returned there, and Mexico will work to fight human trafficking and smuggling.

In exchange for Mexico's cooperation, the US will not new tariffs on imported Mexican goods.

"We have fully signed and documented another very important part of the Immigration and Security deal with Mexico, one that the US has been asking about getting for many years. It will be revealed in the not too distant future and will need a vote by Mexico's Legislative body!" US President Donald Trump tweeted.

"We do not anticipate a problem with the vote but, if for any reason the approval is not forthcoming, tariffs will be reinstated!"

Regarding rumors of a commercial agreement as well, Ebard said, "I want to be quite clear - there is no agreement of any kind that has not been made known. We do not have a specific agreement on products."