Mexicans begin to unite in fight against Trump’s plans

MEXICO CITY — Mexicans are beginning to debate how to fight back against US President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on trade and immigration. Prominent political figures have suggested the country expel US law enforcement agents, stop detaining Central American migrants or no longer inspect northbound trucks for drug shipments. Some activist groups on Friday were calling for a boycott of American brands. Former President Felipe Calderon said Thursday that “we have to design a policy of retaliation” for Trump’s proposed plans, which include making Mexico pay for the border wall he wants to build. “We have to put US security issues under review ... including the presence of (US) agents” on Mexican soil, Calderon told local news media. The comments came after current President Enrique Pena Nieto scrapped a planned on Tuesday meeting with Trump after the American president tweeted that it would be better to cancel if Mexico wasn’t willing to pay for his proposed wall. Ruben Aguilar, a political consultant who was spokesman for former President Vicente Fox, noted on Friday that Mexico has been stopping Central American migrants before they reach the US border “as part of the logic between two friendly countries.” He suggested that Mexico could say, “Okay, I’m not going to stop Central Americans anymore,” and added, “Now if our two countries aren’t friends anymore, that is a card we could play to increase the pressure.” “Drugs are another” possible card, Aguilar said. “If you want to stop them with your wall, well we won’t stop them anymore, let them go through.” Trump appeared to try to defuse the spat between the two countries on Friday, saying, “Great respect for Mexico, I love the Mexican people.” “We have really, I think, a very good relationship, the president and I, and we had a talk that lasted for about an hour this morning, and we are going to be working on a fair relationship,” Trump said. — Agencies