Trump is outspoken on more than just Mexico.
Racist, stupid, ignorant, illegal and impossible are some of the adjectives being used this week to describe the latest pronouncements by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, whose lead in the polls shows signs of strengthening this week.
One of Trump’s campaign pledges is to build a wall along the entire Mexico-U.S. border. On Sunday he said that if the Mexican government refuses to pay for the wall, the U.S. government would seize remittances “derived from illegal salaries” and raise the cost of visas and border crossing cards.
He also promised to deport an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.
The Mexican government, which has said little in response to Trump’s anti-Mexico campaign, said yesterday his comments reflect racism and ignorance. The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that “anyone who understands the depth of the relationship between the United States and Mexico will realize that these proposal are not only prejudiced and absurd, but would be harmful to the well-being of both societies.”
Trump’s comments “reflect prejudice, racism or just plain ignorance,” the statement said, observing as well that more than 33 million people of Mexican origin live in the U.S., including second and third generations. They generate 8% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.
A Harvard University remittances and migration specialist said Trump’s plan to seize remittances is neither possible nor legal.
“Trump’s statements seek to lead the discussion toward issues without merit and provoke an illegitimate debate,” Manuel Orozco told the EFE news agency, explaining that remittances sent back to Mexico by emigrants working in the U.S. totaled US $23.6 billion last year.
But not all are illegal immigrants, he said, and it would be hard to identify remittances sent by illegal workers.
Angie Maria Kelly of the Center for American Progress said Trump is “disconnected from reality” and that his plan for remittances was “socially and economically stupid.” She also expressed concern that the other 16 Republican candidates for president did not react to Trump’s latest statements.
A CNN poll this week puts Trump 11 points ahead of his nearest competitor for the Republican nomination, Jeb Bush, with the support of 24% of Republican voters. CNN says Trump’s gains have now made him competitive in the general election, where he is just six points behind Democratic party leader Hillary Clinton.
A spokesman for the Mexican president’s office said last week that Trump’s statements reflect “enormous ignorance” and irresponsibility.
