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Mexico foreign minister vents 'irritation' at Rex Tillerson | Mexico foreign minister vents 'irritation' at Rex Tillerson |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Mexico's foreign minister has expressed "irritation" to President Donald Trump's envoys about recent US policies towards its southern neighbour. | Mexico's foreign minister has expressed "irritation" to President Donald Trump's envoys about recent US policies towards its southern neighbour. |
Luis Videgaray said he had told visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Mexico was worried about respect for immigrants' rights. | Luis Videgaray said he had told visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Mexico was worried about respect for immigrants' rights. |
Mr Tillerson said in Mexico City that "two strong sovereign countries" would have differences from time to time. | Mr Tillerson said in Mexico City that "two strong sovereign countries" would have differences from time to time. |
Relations between the neighbours are at their lowest point for decades. | Relations between the neighbours are at their lowest point for decades. |
A US plan, unveiled this week, to expel to Mexico all illegal immigrants found crossing the US border regardless of nationality has angered Mexicans most. | A US plan, unveiled this week, to expel to Mexico all illegal immigrants found crossing the US border regardless of nationality has angered Mexicans most. |
The body language at Thursday's meeting between the American and Mexican officials certainly did not suggest that ties had miraculously warmed in the space of a meal and a meeting, but the tone from both sides was more conciliatory than in recent weeks, the BBC's Will Grant reports from Mexico City. | |
'Hurt feelings' | |
Speaking first, Foreign Minister Videgaray said rebuilding the relationship would be a long process and would not be easy. He urged all concerned to "overcome the grievances and hurt feelings" to create a relationship based on trust and friendship. | Speaking first, Foreign Minister Videgaray said rebuilding the relationship would be a long process and would not be easy. He urged all concerned to "overcome the grievances and hurt feelings" to create a relationship based on trust and friendship. |
"There's a concern among Mexicans, there's irritation [about] what has been perceived as policies that might be harmful for the Mexicans and for the Mexican industry," he said. | "There's a concern among Mexicans, there's irritation [about] what has been perceived as policies that might be harmful for the Mexicans and for the Mexican industry," he said. |
Secretary Tillerson spoke next, saying as a native Texan he had always considered Mexico a "very close neighbour", and echoing his counterpart's spirit of co-operation. | Secretary Tillerson spoke next, saying as a native Texan he had always considered Mexico a "very close neighbour", and echoing his counterpart's spirit of co-operation. |
"In a relationship filled with vibrant colours," he said of the two nations, "there will always be differences". | "In a relationship filled with vibrant colours," he said of the two nations, "there will always be differences". |
Those differences were complicated further by the Trump administration's new guidelines on deportation of undocumented immigrants, especially those with criminal records. | Those differences were complicated further by the Trump administration's new guidelines on deportation of undocumented immigrants, especially those with criminal records. |
It fell to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to reassure his hosts that there would be "no mass deportations" and no use of the US military in immigration enforcement. | It fell to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to reassure his hosts that there would be "no mass deportations" and no use of the US military in immigration enforcement. |
That appeared to directly contradict what President Trump had said earlier in the day when he told a meeting of manufacturing CEOs that his administration had been getting "really bad dudes" out of the United States - before specifically stating that it was a "military operation". | That appeared to directly contradict what President Trump had said earlier in the day when he told a meeting of manufacturing CEOs that his administration had been getting "really bad dudes" out of the United States - before specifically stating that it was a "military operation". |
Mr Tillerson and Mr Kelly later met Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto behind closed doors before returning to Washington. | |
The Trump administration issued a new policy on Tuesday targeting millions of illegal immigrants for possible deportation, mirroring a previous executive order signed by the president. | The Trump administration issued a new policy on Tuesday targeting millions of illegal immigrants for possible deportation, mirroring a previous executive order signed by the president. |
The new policy, which seeks to step up enforcement of existing US immigration laws, widens the net on deportation and speeds up their removal. | The new policy, which seeks to step up enforcement of existing US immigration laws, widens the net on deportation and speeds up their removal. |
It also calls for sending back to Mexico immigrants caught crossing the border illegally, irrespective of where they are from, and deporting anyone charged with, or convicted of, any crime. | It also calls for sending back to Mexico immigrants caught crossing the border illegally, irrespective of where they are from, and deporting anyone charged with, or convicted of, any crime. |
President Trump has insisted that Mexico will pay billions for a wall along the US border, which prompted Mr Nieto to cancel a planned Washington visit late last month. | President Trump has insisted that Mexico will pay billions for a wall along the US border, which prompted Mr Nieto to cancel a planned Washington visit late last month. |
Both US and Mexican officials made no mention of Mr Trump's proposed wall at the news conference on Thursday. | Both US and Mexican officials made no mention of Mr Trump's proposed wall at the news conference on Thursday. |
Mr Trump has also ordered a report, due on Friday, listing all foreign aid the US provides to Mexico. | Mr Trump has also ordered a report, due on Friday, listing all foreign aid the US provides to Mexico. |
It is unclear why he requested the review, but its inclusion in Mr Trump's executive order on constructing a wall along the southern border suggests he may use it for leverage in negotiations with Mexico. | It is unclear why he requested the review, but its inclusion in Mr Trump's executive order on constructing a wall along the southern border suggests he may use it for leverage in negotiations with Mexico. |
Mexican officials are also concerned about Mr Trump's pledge to renegotiate trade partnerships between the two countries. | Mexican officials are also concerned about Mr Trump's pledge to renegotiate trade partnerships between the two countries. |
The president has proposed to levy a 20% tax on Mexican imports to pay for a border wall. | The president has proposed to levy a 20% tax on Mexican imports to pay for a border wall. |
Democratic senators urged Mr Tillerson and Mr Kelly to work through tensions with their Mexican counterparts on Thursday. | Democratic senators urged Mr Tillerson and Mr Kelly to work through tensions with their Mexican counterparts on Thursday. |
"We urge you to use your visit to disavow vitriolic rhetoric and forge a strong partnership based on mutual respect with the government of Mexico," the senators wrote in an open letter. | "We urge you to use your visit to disavow vitriolic rhetoric and forge a strong partnership based on mutual respect with the government of Mexico," the senators wrote in an open letter. |