- Title: Mexico, Central America seek joint strategy on migrants as Trump looms
- Date: 22nd November 2016
- Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (NOVEMBER 21, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GENERAL VIEW OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF MEXICO, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA AT PANELS CLOSE OF MEXICAN FLAG GUATEMALAN FOREIGN MINISTER, CARLOS RAUL MORALES, SPEAKING DURING MEETING CAMERAMEN PANELISTS / GENERAL VIEW OF MEETING MEXICO'S FOREIGN MINISTER, CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU SPEAKING DURING MEETING ATTENDEES AT MEETING GENERAL VIEW OF MEETING ACRONYM OF THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS ON WINDOW FOREIGN MINISTERS ARRIVING AHED OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S FOREIGN MINISTER, CLAUDIA RUIZ MASSIEU, SAYING: "Mexico is in a situation of alertness, strengthening our services and capabilities to reach wherever our people are, at this time, where I insist the immigration policy of the United States has not changed. It is governed by norms and agreements that we have with the (U.S.) federal government and with the state governments and we will continue in that context, seeking the protection and the defence of the rights of our migrants." MORALES SPEAKING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE RUIZ MASSIEU AND HONDURAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARIA DOLORES AGUERO, LISTENING TO MORALES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN FOREIGN MINISTER, CARLOS RAUL MORALES, SAYING: "It would obviously be a serious mistake on our part to be to everything that was said in an election campaign. We are going to wait for a new government in the United States, which will arrive in January, and we will work, precisely on the basis of all the agreements with which we have been working. The wall already exists in part of that border, it is not something novel, it is not something new." FOREIGN MINISTERS DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) EL SALVADOR'S FOREIGN MINISTER, HUGO MARTINEZ, SAYING: "We have, every one of us, the confidence, the commitment and the will to work to strengthen relations with the United States, guarantee the rights of our compatriots and above all also guarantee more and more opportunities in the places of origin for our migrant population." FOREIGN MINISTERS LEAVING AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 7th December 2016 13:49
- Keywords: Donald Trump border wall immigration deportation illegal immigrant
- Location: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
- City: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
- Country: Guatemala
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00159J1XS7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The foreign ministers of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala met on Monday (November 21) to start formulating a strategy to protect their migrants in the United States in a show of regional solidarity following Donald Trump's win in the U.S. presidential election.
Trump's election upset has sent shockwaves through Mexico and Central America, which rely heavily on U.S. remittances and bilateral trade with their rich northern neighbour.
Trump romped to victory in the Nov. 8 election by vowing to end illegal immigration and re-examine trade treaties that he said have led U.S. firms to ship jobs south to lower-wage economies.
During his election campaign, Trump said he plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border, insisting that Mexico will pay for it.
Many of the migrants bound for the United States hail from the poor nations of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and there are concerns that Trump's promise to deport millions would have grave repercussions in Central American countries with few jobs and shaky security.
On Monday, at a meeting in Guatemala City, the foreign ministers of the Central American countries asked Mexico for help to create a migrant protection network, liaise for coordination with U.S. authorities, and to meet regularly for regional talks.
Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Mexico's foreign minister, said the U.S. immigration policy remained unchanged at the moment, and added Mexico's focus on human rights and deepening bilateral links, including at the border, was unshaken.
"Mexico is in a situation of alertness, strengthening our services and capabilities to reach wherever our people are, at this time, where I insist the immigration policy of the United States has not changed. It is governed by norms and agreements that we have with the (U.S.) federal government and with the state governments and we will continue in that context, seeking the protection and the defence of the rights of our migrants," Ruiz Massieu said.
Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales, said they would wait to deal with the new government.
"It would obviously be a serious mistake on our part to be reacting to everything that was said in an election campaign. We are going to wait for a new government in the United States, which will arrive in January, and we will work, precisely on the basis of all the agreements with which we have been working. The wall already exists in part of that border, it is not something novel, it is not something new," Morales said.
"We have, every one of us, the confidence, the commitment and the will to work to strengthen relations with the United States, guarantee the rights of our compatriots and above all also guarantee more and more opportunities in the places of origin for our migrant population," El Salvador's Foreign Minister, Hugo Martinez.
Reuters reported last week that Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador had agreed to seek support from Mexico, and work together to forge a joint strategy in response to Trump's surprise win.
With his inauguration set for Jan. 20, President-elect Trump is currently picking his cabinet. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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