Mexican government dismisses Trump border, migration plan

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after serving on jury duty in New York, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. The Republican presidential candidate reported for jury duty in Manhattan on Monday and spent much of the day like everyone else, filling out forms and wondering whether he would get picked. AP

MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government criticized Donald Trump’s policy proposals on immigration, border security and US-Mexico relations Wednesday, saying they were tainted by bigotry.

The Foreign Relations Department said in emailed comments that the GOP candidate’s stances “reflect prejudice, racism or plain ignorance.”

Trump this week outlined proposals to deny citizenship to U.S.-born babies of immigrants living in the United States illegally as part of a plan emphasizing border security and millions of deportations. He also says he would build a wall along the US southern border and force Mexico to pay for it.

“Anyone who understands the depth of the US-Mexico relationship (realizes) that those proposals are not only prejudiced and absurd, but would be detrimental to the well-being of both societies,” the Foreign Relations Department said.

It added that Mexican migrants make significant contributions to the US economy and society, and said net migration from the country to the United States has reached zero in recent years.