Diplomacy is the Answer to US-Immigration, Not Wall: AMLO

The Mexican official said he is confident they will be able to reach an agreement for the “migratory phenomenon."

Mexican president-elect, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), plans to resolve the issue of binational border wall with diplomacy, the official said during a press meeting in Sonora Saturday.

"We are going to convince them that the immigration problem is not resolved by building walls or using force, but it is a diplomatic job of respect, we are not going to fight with the United States government, we are not going to fight with President Donald Trump,” AMLO said.

The Mexican official who takes office on December 1, said he is confident they will be able to reach a good explanation for the “migratory phenomenon” which can be resolved with understanding, “peace, and love.”

“There is a friendly relationship with the United States government," AMLO said, adding that he hoped to maintain it.

Construction along the 6 km border was slated to begin Saturday. The US$22 million-project would replace the current line of 5-meter high fencing curtaining the edge of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Past exchanges between the two neighboring state-heads show AMLO offering to implement a "curtain" or an alternative to the costly border wall with possible increases to minimum wages, slashed taxes, and further economic development which, he said, may dissuade Latin and Central Americans from immigrating.