October 3, 2018 / Modified oct 3, 2018 4:12 p.m.

Trump, Mexican President-Elect Talk Immigration Over Phone

The conversation touched on an economic development plan for Central America, López Obrador said.

Amlo Morena hero Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says he'll push for anti-poverty programs in meeting with members of the U.S. Cabinet.
Morena, Andrés Manuel López Obrador

President Donald Trump and Mexican President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador spoke over the phone for half an hour Wednesday morning. One key topic was immigration.

Trump said over Twitter that it was a great phone call. And López Obrador told Mexican news outlets that they didn’t even discuss the rancorous topic of a new border wall. Instead, he said, they discussed an economic development plan for Central America.


Elisa Ortega Velásquez is a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She says this is a turning point because Mexico has had no clear immigration policy for more than 15 years.

"The government has been very, very gray regarding doing actions, positive actions, regarding immigration, not only for Mexicans abroad, but also for immigrants here in Mexico," Ortega Velásquez said.

López Obrador is calling for a joint investment in Central America of $30 billion. The Trump administration has made no commitment.

Fronteras Desk
This story is from the Fronteras Desk, a collaboration of Southwestern public radio stations, including NPR 89.1. Read more from the Fronteras Desk.
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