Mexico is prepared to accept millions of illegal aliens, including non-Mexican nationals, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said.
“We can collaborate through different mechanisms,” she said during her daily press briefing.
“There will be time to speak with the United States government if these deportations really happen, but we will receive them here, we are going to receive them properly and we have a plan.”
Sheinbaum had until recently refused to confirm that her government would cooperate with Trump’s plan for the “largest mass deportation operation in American history.”
Last week, the Mexican government announced it was creating an app that will allow migrants to inform family members and local consulates if they think they are about to be detained in the US.
The app will be available in January, in time for president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, on 20 January.
In a press release, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the app will alert the “consulate closest to their location about situations of imminent detention, notify family members who have previously been selected, as well as report to the Foreign Affairs Secretary.”
“The foreign affairs secretary was emphatic in pointing out that to deport someone from the United States you need a court order, a final sentence of deportation or removal, and that is where the consular team will be very aware that due process is complied with,” the press release continued.
Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary, Juan Ramon de le Fuente, has stated that the country will use international law to defend the rights of its citizens.
“In case you find yourself in a situation where detention is imminent, you push the alert button and that sends a signal to the nearest consulate,” he said.
“We want to tell our fellow countrymen that they are not alone and they will not be alone.”
President-elect Donald Trump recently threatened to slap a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada until their governments do something about illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
The threat led to furious attempts at negotiation, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flying directly to Florida to have dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.