By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/video-mexico-wont-pay-border-wall Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Video: Why Mexico won’t pay for the border wall World Nov 29, 2016 3:26 PM EDT Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu reacts to President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. Mexico won’t pay for building a wall along the U.S. border, nor negotiate anything about it, said Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu. Massieu told special correspondent Nick Schifrin in a report airing on the PBS NewsHour that “Mexico will never consider paying for a wall that puts barriers between our two countries.” “We understand that in some territory the United States can do many things that we cannot even oppose or comment on,” she said. “But we will not pay for it, because it goes against everything we believe our two countries can do together, are doing together.” One-third of the 2,000-mile U.S. southern border already has a fence or a wall. The two countries can work together on securing the border using technology and agency cooperation, said Massieu. But “we’re not going to be negotiating anything regarding the wall.” She said the Mexican government is reaching out to local communities to address their concerns about a Trump administration, saying “there’s no change today of migration or deportation policies. We have to wait and see what the new government does after Jan. 20.” Already, over the past few years, more Mexicans are returning to Mexico than going to the United States, she added. “If a large number of Mexican workers were to return to Mexico, it would disturb the economy of several communities in several states.” The United States and Mexico has a history of social and cultural integration that transcends any administration, and a prosperous Mexico will profit the U.S. as well, she said. Part 1 looks at President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises from the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez. In Part 2, special correspondent Nick Schifrin and producer Zach Fannin report on NAFTA as seen from Columbus, Ohio, and Juarez, Mexico. By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu reacts to President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. Mexico won’t pay for building a wall along the U.S. border, nor negotiate anything about it, said Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu. Massieu told special correspondent Nick Schifrin in a report airing on the PBS NewsHour that “Mexico will never consider paying for a wall that puts barriers between our two countries.” “We understand that in some territory the United States can do many things that we cannot even oppose or comment on,” she said. “But we will not pay for it, because it goes against everything we believe our two countries can do together, are doing together.” One-third of the 2,000-mile U.S. southern border already has a fence or a wall. The two countries can work together on securing the border using technology and agency cooperation, said Massieu. But “we’re not going to be negotiating anything regarding the wall.” She said the Mexican government is reaching out to local communities to address their concerns about a Trump administration, saying “there’s no change today of migration or deportation policies. We have to wait and see what the new government does after Jan. 20.” Already, over the past few years, more Mexicans are returning to Mexico than going to the United States, she added. “If a large number of Mexican workers were to return to Mexico, it would disturb the economy of several communities in several states.” The United States and Mexico has a history of social and cultural integration that transcends any administration, and a prosperous Mexico will profit the U.S. as well, she said. Part 1 looks at President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises from the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez. In Part 2, special correspondent Nick Schifrin and producer Zach Fannin report on NAFTA as seen from Columbus, Ohio, and Juarez, Mexico.