Mexicans begin to unite in fight against Trump's plans
MEXICO CITY — Mexicans are beginning to debate how to fight back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on trade and immigration.
Prominent political figures have suggested the country expel U.S. law enforcement agents, stop detaining Central American migrants or no longer inspect northbound trucks for drug shipments. Some activist groups on Friday were calling for a boycott of American brands.
Former President Felipe Calderon said Thursday that “we have to design a policy of retaliation” for Trump’s proposed plans, which include making Mexico pay for the border wall he wants to build.
“We have to put U.S. security issues under review ... including the presence of (U.S.) agents” on Mexican soil, Calderon told local news media.
The comments came after current President Enrique Pena Nieto scrapped a planned Tuesday meeting with Trump after the American president tweeted that it would be better to cancel if Mexico wasn’t willing to pay for the wall.
Ruben Aguilar, a political consultant who was spokesman for former President Vicente Fox, noted Friday that Mexico has been stopping Central American migrants before they reach the border “as part of the logic between two friendly countries.”
He suggested that Mexico could say, “OK, I’m not going to stop Central Americans anymore,” and added, “Now if our two countries aren’t friends anymore, that is a card we could play to increase the pressure.”
“Drugs are another” possible card, Aguilar said. “If you want to stop them with your wall, well we won’t stop them anymore, let them go through.”
Trump appeared to try to defuse the spat Friday, saying, “Great respect for Mexico, I love the Mexican people.”
“We have really, I think, a very good relationship, the president and I, and we had a talk that lasted for about an hour this morning, and we are going to be working on a fair relationship,” Trump said.
The office of the Mexican president confirmed the call, calling it “constructive and productive,” but did not specifically mention the wall.
