Mexican Consul General Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, based in Austin, says anti-immigration rhetoric in the presidential campaign is demeaning, and Texas’ deployment of additional state troopers along its southern border has caused concern.
The Mexican diplomat recently sat down with Texas Public Radio’s Shelley Kofler to talk about why Texas in particular should be concerned about strained US-Mexico relations.
He said “harsh rhetoric” about Mexican immigration depicts a growing isolationist sentiment in the United States. As Mexico’s largest U.S. trading partner Texas and its businesses could be negatively affected if relations sour and trade slows.
Gonzalez Gutierrez said Mexico is also concerned about the growing deployment of Department of Public Safety troopers on the U.S.-Mexico border. He said Mexico doesn’t understand what Texas troopers are doing there and that his country is trying to collaborate with U.S. officials on issues of immigration and border security.
The Consul General said representatives from Mexico and the DPS are meeting every six months discuss border issues.
