Mexican president condemns Texas migrant policy

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador tells Mexican-Americans not to vote Republican in midterm elections

A Honduran migrant boy looks thorugh the fence of a warehouse used as shelter in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, on the border with the US. AFP

A Border Patrol unit drives near a section of reinforced US-Mexico border fence seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico. AFP

A dog barks while standing next to the border fence between Mexico and the US. Reuters

Central American migrants try to cross the Rio Grande, which divides the cities of Eagle Pass, in Texas and Piedras Negras, in Coahuila state, Mexico. AFP

Members of the Beta group of Mexican National Institute of Migration, dedicated to the protection and defence of human rights of migrants, rescue a Honduran migrant child trying to cross the Rio Grande. AFP

Honduran migrants try to cross the Rio Grande. AFP

A family of Central American migrants look through the US-Mexico border fence, as seen from Playas de Tijuana. AFP

Members of the Beta group of Mexican National Institute of Migration, dedicated to the protection and defense of human rights of migrants, rescue a Central American migrant child and a woman trying to cross the Rio Grande. AFP

Central American migrants remain at a warehouse used as shelter in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. AFP

Central American migrants remain at a warehouse used as shelter in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. AFP

Central American migrants pass food through the fence. AFP

A migrant is held by US border patrol agents after climbing the US side of the Rio Grande.

A Border Patrol unit remains near a section of reinforced US-Mexico border fence seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico. AFP

An U.S. Customs and Border Protection van in El Paso. Reuters

An U.S. Customs and Border Protection van in El Paso. Reuters

Mexico's president on Friday attacked the governor of Texas' latest steps to crack down on unauthorised migration, urging people of Mexican origin in the US not to vote for "anti-immigrant" candidates.

On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he had authorised the National Guard and state officials to "apprehend" migrants and transport them to ports of entry on the border with Mexico.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the "immoral" policy was intended to attract support before Texas' November election, in which Mr Abbott, a Republican, is running for re-election.

"If there's a candidate from a party that mistreats immigrants and Mexicans, we're going to ask our countrymen there that they don't vote for that candidate or party," Mr Lopez Obrador told reporters at a morning news conference.

Border patrol in the US falls under federal jurisdiction, and Mr Abbott's order is the latest in a showdown with Democratic President Joe Biden's administration over migration.

Mr Abbott's office, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection, which the DHS oversees, did not respond to requests for comment on Mr Abbott's announcement. The US National Guard referred questions to the Texas National Guard, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr Lopez Obrador, who will travel to the US to meet Mr Biden on Tuesday, said Mr Abbott was overstepping his authority and expressed the view that he was "absolutely sure" the US president would not approve of the Texan policy.

Asylum-seeking migrant families disembark from an inflatable raft after crossing the Rio Grande into the US from Mexico, in Roma, Texas. Reuters

Asylum-seeking migrant families leave a raft. Reuters

Gabby Fajardo sits in the Ambassador Jesus Christ shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, after being expelled from the US. Photo courtesy of Felicia Rangel-Samponaro

Gabby Fajardo and 5-year-old son Gerard stand outside the Ambassador Jesus Christ shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. Photo courtesy of Felicia Rangel-Samponaro

Sherry, 17, holds one-year-old son Ian as she leads a line of unaccompanied minors after crossing the Rio Grande in La Joya, Texas. Reuters

Clothes hang to dry outside the Ambassador Jesus Christ shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. There are currently 1,200 migrants staying at the shelter. Photo courtesy of Felicia Rangel-Samponaro

Mats set up on the ground serve as makeshift beds for migrants at the Ambassador Jesus Christ shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. Photo courtesy of Felicia Rangel-Samponaro

A woman and child sit on a bed inside the Ambassador Jesus Christ Shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. The shelter is currently housing 1,200 migrants. Photo courtesy of Felicia Rangel-Samponaro

A child plays on the floor of the Ambassador Jesus Christ shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. Photo courtesy of Felicia Rangel-Samponaro

Undocumented immigration at the US-Mexico border has been an increasingly politicised issue in bilateral relations, particularly among Republicans since former president Donald Trump's 2015-2016 successful election campaign.

Mr Trump caused widespread outrage in Mexico by describing migrants crossing the border as rapists and drug dealers, and Mexican officials are wary about the prospect of advances made by the Republicans in November's midterm elections.

San Antonio migrant deaths: 51 people found dead in back of abandoned lorry in Texas

Andrei Renteria holds his courtroom sketch, where Homero Zamorano Jr, the suspected driver of a lorry packed with dozens of migrants who died in blazing heat during a Texas smuggling attempt, attends a court hearing in San Antonio. Reuters

Yolanda Olivares is comforted by a relative during a Mass for the migrants who died in the lorry. Ms Olivares believes her sons Jair, 19, Yovani, 16, and her nephew Misael, 16, are among the migrants who died in the stifling lorry. Reuters

People gather for a special Mass for the migrants in San Antonio. Reuters

A relative of Wilmer Tulul, 14, who was among the migrants who died in the lorry, at the family's home in Tzucubal village in Guatemala. AFP

Another relative of Wilmer cries at his home in Guatemala. AFP

Wilmer, seen here on the mobile phone of a relative, was not the only teenager to die in the back of the lorry. Pascual Melvin Guachiac and his cousin Wilmer, both 13, also lost their lives after they suffocated in the stifling heat. AFP

Alfonso holds a picture of Pascual. Reuters

A memorial set up for the migrants in San Antonio. Reuters

Karen Caballero, mother of half-siblings Fernando Jose Redondo and Alejandro Miguel Andino, reacts during an interview after learning that her sons had died in the back of the lorry. Reuters

Christine and Michael Ybarra embrace at the scene where dozens of people were found dead inside a lorry in San Antonio, Texas. Reuters

At least 50 people believed to be migrant workers were found dead inside the vehicle. More than a dozen victims were found alive, suffering from heat stroke, and were taken to local hospitals. Getty Images / AFP

Police and officials man a roadblock near a lorry on the side of the road leading to the location where about 50 migrants were reportedly found dead. EPA

At least 16 people were found alive. EPA

Law enforcement officers work at the deadly scene in San Antonio. Reuters

All the victims are believed to be migrants who were trying to enter the US. Reuters

Police guard the scene where dozens of people were found dead. AP

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus addresses members of the media at the scene. Reuters

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg addresses the media at the scene where people were found dead inside a lorry. Reuters

San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood addresses members of the media. Reuters

Community members wait on the side of the road at the scene. Reuters

A woman visits at the scene where the people were found. Reuters

Rose Perez holds on to her mother, Scarlet Chavez, on the edges of the grim scene. Reuters

Law enforcement officers at the deadly scene. Reuters

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that at least 22 Mexicans are among the roughly 50 migrants who were found. EPA

Local priests from the San Antonio Archdiocese come to the deadly scene in San Antonio, Texas. AFP

The lorry was abandoned on the roadside on the outskirts of San Antonio. AFP

Sixteen people were taken to hospital for treatment. AFP

Local priests from the San Antonio Archdiocese stand near the scene. AFP

Onlookers gather at the scene. Reuters

Police patrol the area where the migrants were found. Reuters