Mexican Gov’t Offers Texas Assistance ‘As Good Neighbors Should Always Do’

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto holds a press conference at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Pena Nieto said Monday that Mexico's attitude towards the Donald Trump adminis... Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto holds a press conference at Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Pena Nieto said Monday that Mexico's attitude towards the Donald Trump administration should not be aggressive or biased, but one of dialogue. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) MORE LESS

By Rowan Morrison

August 28, 2017 1:08 p.m.

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The Mexican government on Sunday offered aid to Texas and expressed solidarity with the United States amid ongoing rescue efforts and massive destruction in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

The Dallas Morning News reported that Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray told Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) by phone that Mexico offered solidarity and aid “as good neighbors should always do in trying times.”

“As we have done in the past, Mexico stands with Texas in this difficult moment,” Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, the Mexican consul general in Austin, said.

Gutierrez told the Dallas Morning News that he was in communication with Abbott’s office to determine what aid would be most helpful.

President Donald Trump on Sunday punctuated his praise of rescue workers in Texas with reiterated campaign promises, including that Mexico would pay for his proposed wall on the United States’ southern border “through reimbursement/other.”

With Mexico being one of the highest crime Nations in the world, we must have THE WALL. Mexico will pay for it through reimbursement/other.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017

Abbott in December said it was “clear” Trump “was elected partly on his platform to secure the border” and said he hoped Trump “accomplishes his goals,” only specifically condemning the construction of a physical barrier in some regions on the border.

“There are serpentine regions of the Rio Grande where it would be extremely challenging to build a wall,” Abbott said. “There are parts like the Big Bend region – we don’t want see a wall in the beautiful Big Bend National Park.”

The Mexican government on Sunday responded to Trump’s claim: “As the Mexican government has always stated, our country will not pay, under any circumstances, for a wall or physical barrier built on U.S. territory along the Mexican border.”

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Rowan Morrison (@emquiry) was a newswriter for TPM in New York City.

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Mexico gave generous aid to the U.S. after Katrina. From Wikipedia:

On August 30, 2005, Mexican President Vicente Fox sent his condolences to U.S. President George W. Bush regarding the hurricane’s effects: “In the name of the people and of the government of Mexico, I assure you of my deepest and most sincere condolences for the devastating effects caused by Hurricane Katrina”. He also mentioned his instructions to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; that the United States would be provided with any kind of help that was needed.

The Mexican Red Cross sent four rescue experts…

… the Mexican Navy offered ships, buses and helicopters to assist in rescue missions. The offer was accepted and the Mexican ship Papaloapan departed from Tampico, with two Mi-17 helicopters, eight all-terrain vehicles, seven amphibious vehicles, two tankers, radio communication equipment, medical personnel and 250 tons of food.

…the Secretariat of Social Development pledged 200 tons of food, to be delivered in five airplanes by the Mexican Air Force. The Secretariat of National Defense, on September 6, sent Mexican soldiers with expertise in rescue missions to the area affected by Katrina. Also sent the same day were 35 vehicles and 162.7 tons of food

The members of congress of the Federal District pledged a day of salary each on September 7, to be sent to those affected by Katrina. The National Commission of Water sent bottled water and canned food upon request. Naval ship Papaloapan arrived the same day, with 389 soldiers and other personnel from the Mexican Navy. Units of the Mexican Army, a total of 184 people, arrived by land with 35 military vehicles.

On September 8, the Mexican Army was received with honors at Kelly Air Force Base by the mayor of San Antonio, Texas.

On September 12, Mexican marines and Dutch navy sailors distributed aid supplies to residents in D’Iberville, Mississippi.

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brutus1910 says:

August 28, 2017

I’d love to see some Mexican Federales on the ground in Houston.
ohcomeonnow says:

August 28, 2017

Trump: The Rapists want to help us. No Thanks. First they must pay for The Wall and only then I will allow them to help us at no charge.
sjk says:

August 28, 2017

To quote Vicente Fox, “WE ARENT PAYING FOR NO FUCKING WALL.”
socalista says:

August 28, 2017

Mexico gave generous aid to the U.S. after Katrina. From Wikipedia:

On August 30, 2005, Mexican President Vicente Fox sent his condolences to U.S. President George W. Bush regarding the hurricane’s effects: “In the name of the people and of the government of Mexico, I assure you of my deepest and most sincere condolences for the devastating effects caused by Hurricane Katrina”. He also mentioned his instructions to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; that the United States would be provided with any kind of help that was needed.

The Mexican Red Cross sent four rescue experts…

… the Mexican Navy offered ships, buses and helicopters to assist in rescue missions. The offer was accepted and the Mexican ship Papaloapan departed from Tampico, with two Mi-17 helicopters, eight all-terrain vehicles, seven amphibious vehicles, two tankers, radio communication equipment, medical personnel and 250 tons of food.

…the Secretariat of Social Development pledged 200 tons of food, to be delivered in five airplanes by the Mexican Air Force. The Secretariat of National Defense, on September 6, sent Mexican soldiers with expertise in rescue missions to the area affected by Katrina. Also sent the same day were 35 vehicles and 162.7 tons of food

The members of congress of the Federal District pledged a day of salary each on September 7, to be sent to those affected by Katrina. The National Commission of Water sent bottled water and canned food upon request. Naval ship Papaloapan arrived the same day, with 389 soldiers and other personnel from the Mexican Navy. Units of the Mexican Army, a total of 184 people, arrived by land with 35 military vehicles.

On September 8, the Mexican Army was received with honors at Kelly Air Force Base by the mayor of San Antonio, Texas.

On September 12, Mexican marines and Dutch navy sailors distributed aid supplies to residents in D’Iberville, Mississippi.
lestatdelc says:

August 28, 2017

Trump gets a habanero burn of humanity.

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