Mexican politicians slam deployment of guardsmen

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Mexican politicians put aside differences Thursday to condemn U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to the border.

“The attitude of militarization seems to us like just one more insult that we Mexicans don’t deserve,” said Ramon Galindo, the state government representative in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.

“Having soldiers on the other side won’t make absolutely any difference at all,” Galindo said, noting that migration, trade and cross-border exchanges are a reality.

Jorge de Santiago, a maquiladora worker whose house sits right on the border, said of the deployment: “It looks bad, but it doesn’t do much. It’s pure populism, just meant to frighten people.”

The country’s Senate passed a resolution Wednesday calling on Mexico’s government to suspend cooperation with the U.S. on illegal immigration and drug trafficking in retaliation for Trump’s move.

Presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya went further, saying Mexico should limit anti-terrorism cooperation until the National Guard is withdrawn. Anaya is the candidate of a left-right coalition in the country’s July 1 presidential election.

Ruling party candidate Jose Antonio Meade said that “independently of our political differences, it is time for all the presidential candidates to unite in defense of the sovereignty and dignity of the nation … to reject and repudiate thus kind of measure.”

Others took Trump’s decision with a grain of salt after the Mexican government said Guard troops “will not carry weapons or have immigration or customs duties.”

The newspaper El Heraldo said in a headline Thursday “U.S. deploys National Guard … tin soldiers.”