Mexico Rules Out Paying US for Construction of Border Wall - Envoy to Russia

© REUTERS / Jose Luis GonzalezA worker stands next to a newly built section of the U.S.-Mexico border fence at Sunland Park, U.S. opposite the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
A worker stands next to a newly built section of the U.S.-Mexico border fence at Sunland Park, U.S. opposite the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico - Sputnik International
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Mexico will not participate in the construction of the wall at its border with the United States, despite the latter's demands, Mexico's Ambassador to Russia Norma Bertha Pensado Moreno told Sputnik in an interview.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The construction of the wall at the Mexican border with the aim of combating the inflow of undocumented immigrants and crime was one of US President Donald Trump's key campaign promises. Trump initially promised that Mexico would pay for the construction of the wall, despite the constant refusals of Mexican officials who said that the country would never finance it. Later, Trump admitted that US taxpayer dollars would be needed to fund the wall's construction.

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"We in Mexico believe not in walls, but in bridges. Whatever the United States does on their own territory is its right. Mexico would neither participate in the construction of the wall in any form nor pay for the construction. Though we do not believe it is hypothetically possible, even if these plans are specified, the wall will have no impact on the migration processes and flows. Migration is a natural process, that has been taking place between the United States and Mexico for centuries," the diplomat said.

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According to Pensado, the border between the two countries is something beyond the realm of possibility.

"This is a unique cultural community, area. You can not say that this territory is 100 percent American or Mexican, it is the border. Families that live on the different sides of the border move in both directions all the time. The border is crossed around a million times a day. It is one of the busiest and most crossed borders in the world. Trade turnover between the United States and Mexico amount to $1 million a minute. Can you imagine that all this could be ended by building a wall? Let us be honest — no," she said.

The diplomat added that many Mexicans that live at the border with the United States cross it every day when commuting to work, going to a restaurant or fueling a car. She noted that she saw no way to stop this "constant exchange" which has become a part of the lives of many people.

In late July, the US House of Representatives passed a funding appropriations bill that includes money for a border wall as well as other initiatives. Funding for the construction of the wall will total $1.6 billion, as initially requested by the White House.

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