President Donald Trump may be intent on building a border wall separating Mexico from four U.S. states, but that hasn’t stopped Mexico from offering to help one of those states, Texas, in its efforts to recover from Hurricane Harvey.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott accepted Mexico’s offer to help his beleaguered state by sending food, water, medicine and boats.
“We had a list of aid and assistance that they have offered to provide that we are accepting,” Gov. Abbott said.
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The revelation comes just days after Trump reaffirmed his desire not just to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall, but to get Mexico to pay for the project.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson praised Mexico’s generosity in offering “a wide range of assistance” in the Harvey relief efforts.
“Very generous of Mexico to offer their help at this very, very challenging time for our citizens down in Texas… thank you very much Mr. Secretary,” Tillerson said during a visit by his Mexican counterpart, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray.
“You’re absolutely welcome, and we’re here to help,” Videgaray responded. “We are neighbours, we are friends and that’s what friends do.”
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Mexico previously sent hundreds of troops to New Orleans in 2005, to help the tens of thousands of Americans stranded and displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Nearly 40 per cent of Texas’ population comprises Hispanics, the majority of whom are of Mexican heritage, according to the Pew Research Center.
— With a file from Reuters