With Fear and Reproach

While Russia is popping champagne to celebrate Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections, Latin America is taking safeguard measures in order to neutralize the potential political and economic risks from the billionaire’s presidency.

Donald Trump’s pre-elections rhetoric towards Latin-Americans, especially Mexicans, was published by media all over the world and was a reason behind accusing the businessman of racism and an «ideology of inequality». He is best known for his statement «They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists.» And this was not the limit to Trump’s obsession with insidious Mexicans and Latin-Americans - he also came up with initiatives to build a wall along the border with Mexico, a promise to organize the large-scale deportation of «illegal criminals», and made other anti-immigrant insults, as well as opposing the use of the Spanish language. 

REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

In the light of these facts, it is understandable why Trump’s victory is viewed by Latin America and the Caribbean with expectation of challenges and complications, if not particularly with horror. The USA is an important traditional partner for Latin America and Caribbean countries, many of which have special relationship with their North-American neighbor. Colombia might be one such countries, which hasn't betrayed its preferences in many years. These countries are unlikely to suffer much, though they clearly understand that Trump promoting a light policy of isolationism will generally affect the intensity of the dialogue as well as the provision of financial and other assistance. The exporters of labor, especially Mexico, put in a bad light for being the gateway to the USA for thousands of migrants from all over the region, are worried about this «problem with Trump» to a far greater degree.

The case of Mexico is quite interesting, as Mexico started to build its own «protecting wall» immediately after the billionaire’s presidential victory, though not quite successful in all spheres. The Mexicans don’t understand what measures have to be taken to save the economy of the country and the national currency if Trump destroys the free-trade agreement that includes Mexico as he promised over the course of his election campaign.

That is why the Mexicans built their line of defense in a different area as a first step. On November 17 authorities in Mexico unveiled new measures to provide support to Mexican citizens living in the United States. Some acts of aggression against Mexicans were committed after Trump’s victory, which only strengthened the feeling of insecurity and uncertainty within the Mexican community in the U.S.. The government led by Enrique Peña Nieto decided to protect its citizens, who are variously estimated at about 35 million in the U.S. (the number shows a vast category of people «of Mexican origin»). Mexicans, in fact, make over 60% of all Hispanic speaking immigrants in the U.S., all other immigrants from the countries of the region are far behind. The main purpose of the «We are with you» (Estamos Contigo) program is to protect Mexicans to "avoid any conflict situation" as well as provide consulate services and legal assistance. The key measures include several phone hotlines, the extension of Embassy working hours, more appointments for migrants to get passports, birth certificates and consular identification cards, and the expansion of the mobile consulate services availability in cities with large Mexican populations.  

The program was presented by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Claudia Ruiz Massieu, who underscored that, all Mexicans should stand together in these tough times and display unity. You must admit that the discourse in such a tone and at a high political level already speaks volumes.