Mexican president rejects new U.S. border wall construction

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday voiced strong opposition to the construction of a new segment of the U.S. border wall in the state of New Mexico, calling it a unilateral move by the U.S. government.

Speaking at her daily press conference, Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico is not involved in the project in any way and is not contributing funding.

"They're building it on their own. We don't support the wall. We've achieved a safe border through cooperation and coordination, not walls," she said.

Sheinbaum described the construction as a decision made solely by U.S. President Donald Trump and emphasized Mexico's preference for development-based cooperation and respect for Mexicans living in the United States.

This week, the Trump administration began a new phase of construction on a secondary border barrier between Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez in northern Mexico. The project includes 9.6 km of 9-meter-high steel posts placed behind an older 5.5-meter fence.