Trump in Mexico calls for end to 'disaster' of illegal immigration
Donald Trump called for the end to the "humanitarian disaster" of illegal immigration as he sought to strike a statesmanlike tone during his visit to Mexico on Wednesday.
Standing alongside Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto, the GOP presidential nominee read from a prepared statement touting the "shared objective" of ending illegal immigration.
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He added that neither country can "win" when the border is filled with "human smugglers and drug traffickers," or when illegal weapons and cash flow into Mexico from the north while immigrants come into America from the south.
The brief appearance, arranged in just a matter of days, tried to show a different side of Trump, that of a man vying to become America's next chief executive. His remarks centered on the joint responsibility between the two countries, and he appeared to barely deviate from those scripted remarks.
Trump outlined five crucial areas of agreement between the two nations: ending illegal immigration, securing the border, dismantling drug cartels and the flow of illicit guns and money between the border, improving the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and preserving manufacturing wealth in the hemisphere.
During a brief question-and-answer session with the press, Trump confirmed that he spoke with Pena Nieto about his proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Asked whether they discussed Trump’s insistence that Mexico pay for the wall, Trump replied, “We didn’t discuss that," framing the meeting as "preliminary." Peña Nieto later contradictedTrump on that point.
Trump late Tuesday night announced the surprise trip to the country he has spent the vast majority of his campaign hammering.
He started his campaign by saying most Mexicans crossing illegally into the U.S. are "rapists" and other criminals, and he has repeatedly cast illegal immigration as a threat to the country.
But Wednesday's appearance was orchestrated to combat the image that has dogged him on the campaign trail and that has led to his Democratic opponent tarring him as a racist.
He struck a more conciliatory tone as he stood alongside Peña Nieto, lauding the "great honor" of the invitation by the Mexican president and noting his "tremendous feelings for Mexican-Americans." And the GOP presidential hopeful initiated a handshake with the world leader at the conclusion of the remarks.
Trump added that the two spoke for more than an hour, and noted that Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Trump ally long seen as an immigration hard-liner, also attended the meeting.
The remarks came just hours before Trump is set to clear up confusion about his immigration platform amid speculation that he could be looking to moderate on the centerpiece issue of his campaign.
Updated 4:59 p.m.
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