Interview with the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto with the newspaper El Universal published 12 September 2014:
…Reporter: Mr. President, a related theme in a certain form is the one emerging in Texas. The governor of this state has ordered the National Guard to go reinforce the border with Mexico. This attitude is a bit unpleasant, but is emerging inside the same framework of activity in the movement of human trafficking and the migration of children and young people throughout the whole country.. What is going on?
President Nieto: Look, it is not only unpleasant, but I believe it is reprehensible. It appears to me to be a completely unacceptable policy, that does not resonate with the spirit of cordiality and of good friendship between the two countries, particularly what is occurring in Texas, when we are observing that in other states in the American Union that, without a doubt, are changing their politics, they have become much more friendly, especially to the migrant population.
President Nieto: Recently I was in the state of California, that you well know is a state that possesses and independent economy it is the eighth (largest) economy in the world. And here the politics have changed, here we have a greater presence in the demographic composition of people or citizens of Mexican origin, a migrant population that forms part of the development of this state and where the politics are very friendly.
We have condemned, we have lamented this politics (policy) the state of Texas has implemented. It does not resonate either with the politics and bilateral relationship we have established between Mexico and the North American government of neighbors, of a great relationship, of an agenda multi-themed, not only of security, but we have talked about academic exchanges, investment in the infrastructure on the border to augment productivity in the North American region. This is to say, it appears to me that this attitude is completely reprehensible and it does not resolve the problem we have to face on a united front (or together).
The countries from which come the origin of this migration, above all the unaccompanied children, that come particularly from Central America, that cross through our territory. Here we have the task of giving attention to these children and returning them to their places of origin. But for those who arrive at the border, it appears to me they should have a dignified treatment, an appropriate treatment. And in agreement with the migrant policies that the United States has, but not, in any way, to combat this migrant phenomenon that has increased in recent months, with the National Guard on the border.
Reporter: Although this occurred barely yesterday (Wednesday), Mr. President, Why has your government, through the Secretary of Exterior Relations, already protested the conduct of the governor of Texas?
President Nieto: We have emphasized and we have condemned, and we have protested through the Secretary of Exterior Relations, because, I repeat, clearly this threatens against the climate of good relations, and of good neighbors. And I believe that the relation between Mexico and the United States is in a good place. It is a relation in which there is collaboration, in which there is cooperation. And I have to make it clear that this is an isolated politics of a state in the American Union, that is the case of Texas, where the governor has taken this action, that the Mexican government condemns.
