Mexico City, May 9 (IANS) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has denied claims that Mexican consulates in the United States are interfering in local politics and should come under scrutiny.
“This idea that Mexican consulates are engaging in politics in the United States is completely false,” Sheinbaum said at a daily press conference on Friday (local time), stressing that just like the US consulate in Mexico or those of other countries, the Mexican consulate’s role is solely to “protect their citizens.”
Her remarks followed a report broadcast by CBS News that the US State Department is looking to investigate Mexican consulates, and possibly even close some of them, following the deaths of two American CIA officers after a counter-narcotics operation in northern Mexico last month, reports Xinhua news agency.
Mexico’s government has not received any official notification of a supposed review or possible closure of consulates, she said.
Mexico’s more than 50 consulates in the United States provide assistance and protection to Mexican citizens abroad, in keeping with international law and standard diplomatic practices, said Sheinbaum. “They are very respectful of US policy.”
The US administration’s immigration crackdown, including raids against undocumented migrants, has led the Mexican government to strengthen its consular services.
Earlier on May 5, the President celebrated the Cinco de Mayo holiday by declaring that no foreign power should dictate the country’s course and that political opponents seeking support from abroad are destined to fail.
Commemorating the 164th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces defeated a much larger invading French army, Sheinbaum stressed that nothing is more important than sovereignty, independence and the national interests of the Mexican people.
“Those who seek foreign support, as they lack the people’s support, are destined for defeat… Those who think the president is bowing down: they are destined for defeat,” Sheinbaum said in a speech in the central state of Puebla.
Her remarks come just days after the US government requested the extradition of 10 Mexican citizens, including the governor of northwest Sinaloa state, Ruben Rocha Moya, for alleged crimes in connection with arms and drug trafficking.
–IANS
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