The GPM Global Forecast is a bi-weekly, members-only article series. It provides analysis and short-term forecasting on key military, political, and economic trends around the globe.

The US-Mexico Bilateral Showdown Kicks Off

The Trump administration has revealed a set of harsh new guidelines on the deportation of illegal immigrants. The revelation came in a memo from the Department of Homeland Security, which calls for new, sweeping powers to target the country’s 11 million illegal immigrants for deportation. Where the Obama administration only targeted illegals that had been convicted of serious crimes, the new guidelines target those who were convicted – or accused – of any crime, along with the broadly subjective ‘those who pose a risk to public or national security.’ So basically: anyone, depending on the mood of the executing officer. The memo also calls for the hiring of 10,000 new agents to help execute the crackdown, and makes it easier for state authorities to carry out orders from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).