Mexico: We will not pay for Trump border wall

Mexico will not pay for Donald Trump's border
wall, the country's president has said in a
message to the nation.
Enrique Pena Nieto said he "lamented" the plans
for the barrier, adding that "Mexico doesn't believe
in walls".
But he made no mention of cancelling or
postponing a trip to Washington on 31 January to
meet the new US president.
Mr Trump has signed an executive order for an
"impassable physical barrier" and has insisted
Mexico will reimburse the US for it.
Mr Pena Nieto told the nation in a televised
address: "I've said time and again; Mexico won't
pay for any wall.
"I regret and condemn the decision of the United
States to continue construction of a wall that, for
years, has divided us instead of uniting us."
But Mr Pena Nieto said his country offered "its
friendship to the American people and its
willingness to reach accords with their
government".
Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray - in
Washington to lead a delegation that has held
talks at the White House - told the Televisa
network the president was still weighing next
Tuesday's visit but said "the meeting stands for
now".
Mr Pena Nieto met Mr Trump - then a presidential
candidate - in Mexico City in September and came
under intense criticism at home and his current
approval ratings are low.
Mr Trump said in an interview with ABC News that
Mexico would "absolutely, 100%" reimburse the US
for his wall.
But Congress would have to approve funding for
the structure, which is estimated to cost billions of
dollars.
Building a 2,000 mile (3,200km) barrier along the
Mexican border was one of Mr Trump's key
pledges in the election campaign.
He spoke of a "crisis" on the southern US border
as he signed the directives during a ceremony at
the Department of Homeland Security on
Wednesday.
The orders also called for hiring 10,000
immigration officials to help boost border patrol
efforts.
"A nation without borders is not a nation," he said.
"Beginning today the United States gets back
control of its borders."
The executive orders are among a flurry expected
on national and border security this week.
Mr Trump is next expected to announce
immigration restrictions from seven countries with
Muslim-majority populations in the Middle East
and Africa. This could affect refugee programmes.
These countries are believed to be Syria, Iraq, Iran,
Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

Source: BBC