Instead of paying for Donald Trump's notorious border wall, Mexican President has chosen to allocate some $50 million to his country's consulates across the United States to boost legal aid and protection of Mexican citizens who might be facing deportation.Tensions between the two countries amid concerns of a looming crackdown on illegal immigration under President Trump's administration has prompted Mexican officials to take legal steps to protect citizens "against an eventual deportation. “We are not promoting illegality,” Videgaray said, according to a video of an event at the Mexican consulate in New York provided by the foreign ministry, saying that Mexico supported following the law, but that means respecting human rights. "Today we are facing a situation that can paradoxically represent an opportunity, when suddenly a government wants to apply the law more severely," Reuters quoted Videgaray as saying.Videgaray urged the US toUS President Donald Trump has issued orders to impose strict deportation procedures during his first month in office. “It is becoming more than evident that to apply the law, which is the obligation of any state, would also imply a real economic damage to this country which highlights the need for immigration reform, an immigration reform that resolves once and for all the legal status of the people,” Videgaray said. Such policies, alongside the border wall project, are aimed to a great extent against Mexico, as someaccording to estimates from the Pew Research Center.The Mexican President, however, has consistently dismissed any such notion.The 2,000-mile border wall could be built within the next two years, according to US Department of Homeland Security estimates.
Mexico opens legal aide centers in its 50 U.S. consulates to defend its citizens' rights amid the United States "crackdown" on illegal immigration. In a video, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray Caso said Mexico supports following the law but notes that current circumstances highlight the need for immigration reform.