• Live
    • Audio Only
  • google plus
  • facebook
  • twitter
News > Latin America

Unasur Condemns Trump's Decision Over 'Humiliating' Mexican Wall

  • UNASUR's Ernesto Samper.

    UNASUR's Ernesto Samper. | Photo: teleSUR

Published 26 January 2017
Opinion

Unasur also expressed concern over the "security" of Latin American immigrants living in the U.S., peace in Colombia and “relations with Cuba."

Unasur Secretary-General Ernesto Samper condemned the decision by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Thursday to move forward with his idea of a wall along the Mexican border.

RELATED:
Sanctuary Cities at Risk Under Trump — but That Won't Stop Them

“In the name of Unasur's secretary's office, I reject the challenging decision adopted by the new U.S. president to force the Mexican people to pay for the humiliating wall supposed to be built in order to physically separate Mexico from the United States,” said the former Colombian president.

In the communique, Samper also expressed concern over the “security and life quality” of Latin American immigrants living in the United States in the aftermath of Trump's decision, and concerns over “trade, peace in Colombia” and “relations with Cuba” — as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated he would reverse the policy of normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba.

The U.S. is considering a 20 percent border tax on Mexican imports to pay for Trump’s wall along the border between the two countries, his spokesman told reporters Thursday, just hours after the Mexican president announced he would not make the trip to Washington to meet the newly-elected president.

The White House claims the planned border wall, which could cost US$14 billion, will save money by decreasing spending on undocumented immigrants.

Mexican head of state Enrique Peña Nieto announced on Twitter earlier Thursday that he will not be attending a meeting with Trump that was originally scheduled for the end of this month. The announcement comes after Trump issued a Twitter ultimatum to his Mexican counterpart saying he should only follow through with the visit if Mexico plans on paying for Trump's proposed border wall.

"This morning, we have informed the White House that I will not attend the scheduled meeting this upcoming Tuesday with @POTUS," Peña Nieto announced in a tweet. He also used his Twitter account to reaffirm his commitment to working with the U.S. on agreements that benefit both countries.

Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.