U.S., Mexico at odds over deportation, border wall as officials meet

Senior Mexican officials onThursday expressed "worry and irritation" about U.S. policiesduring a visit by two of President Donald Trump's top envoys,who in turn sought to cool tempers after weeks of tensionbetween the neighbours.

"There exists among Mexicans worry and irritation about whatare perceived to be policies that could be harmful for the
national interest and for Mexicans here and abroad," ForeignSecretaryLuis Videgaray told a news conference.

He was speaking after talks in the Mexican capital with U.S.Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security chiefJohn Kelly.

Standing beside the U.S. visitors,Videgaray said it is "a complex time" for U.S.-Mexicanrelations, which have gone downhill quickly since Trumpwas elected U.S. president in November.

The U.S. government this week angered Mexico by saying itwas seeking to deport many illegal immigrants to Mexico if theyentered the United States from there, regardless of theirnationality.

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The immigration guidelines are the latest point of tensionbetween neighbours that have also been at odds over Trump's vowto build a wall on the border and his attempts to browbeatMexico into giving concessions on trade.

Videgaray and President Enrique Pena Nieto have beencriticized at home for being too willing to engage with Trump,
who has repeatedly cranked up tension with the country ahead ofkey meetings.

'No use of military force'

Both sides on Thursday pledged further dialogue onmigration, trade and security issues facing both nations. Kelly and Tillerson were much more measured in their words than eitherthe Mexicans or Trump, who on Thursday said a "military operation" was being carried out to clear "bad dudes" from the UnitedStates.

The comments prompted a clarification fromKelly, who said there would be "no use of military force inimmigration operations," and "no repeat, no" mass deportations.

None of the officials made direct references to thedeportation of immigrants from third countries to Mexico, or to paying for the border wall planned by Trump, a red-flag issuefor Mexico.

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Earlier in the day, Videgaray said Mexico had no intention of complying with Trump's executive orders.

"I want to say clearly and most emphatically that the Mexican government and the Mexican people have no reason to accept unilateral decisions imposed by one government on another," Videgaray said. "We are not going to accept that, because we don't have to."

The Americans met with Videgaray before a working lunch with Mexican officials and a formal meeting with the president,Pena Nieto.

Trump's insistence that Mexico pay billions for a border wall led Pena Nieto to cancel a planned Washington visit. Mexican officials are also apprehensive over Trump's pledge to overhaul the trade relationship and possible apply steep taxes to Mexican products, a move with profound impacts for Mexico's export-heavy economy.

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