Mexican ambassador on caravan: We do not promote illegal immigration

Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Gerónimo Gutiérrez said Monday his nation does not condone or promote illegal immigration amid sharp criticism from the Trump administration over caravans of migrants approaching the southern American border.

“Since this started, Brian, the Mexican government made very clear three things,” Gutiérrez told Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade on his radio program when asked if Mexico bore some responsibility for the caravan of 7,000 people. “First, that anybody that wanted to enter Mexico should do so in compliance with Mexican immigration law.”

{mosads}”Second, that if somebody really had a humanitarian situation and requested refugee status, they could do so with the appropriate authorities in Mexico,” Gutiérrez said. “And third, that if it’s none of those cases and somebody decided to enter irregularly, they can be obviously subject to repatriation.”

“That policy has not changed,” he said, adding that Mexico is currently trying to enforce the border laws for those who have crossed illegally, but without any cases of violence.

“Mexican government does not condone or promote illegal immigration.”

Gutiérrez called the situation a humanitarian crisis and emphasized that Mexico is working very closely with the United States on the issue. 

President Trump took aim at Mexico’s efforts earlier Monday over Twitter.

Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy. Must change laws!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018

Trump also went after Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador with a much harsher tone over the caravan, which is moving north toward the U.S. border from those countries.

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018

The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.