Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sandoval has suggested that President Donald Trump’s policies toward Mexico endanger the “social harmony” enjoyed by the large U.S. expatriate community in this state.
“Millions of Americans live in Mexico. Can we continue to coexist?” was the title of an opinion piece penned by Sandoval published in the online edition of Britain’s Guardian newspaper this week.
“One of the largest communities of expatriate Americans in the world resides peacefully on the banks of Lake Chapala, with thousands of others living in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” wrote Sandoval. “These people are an essential part of the heartbeat of our community. However, I fear the inflammatory rhetoric of Trump could put that social harmony at risk, sowing the seeds of division.”
Sandoval’s rather unorthodox warning offered no specifics about how the social harmony of the expat community might be affected. He did, however, note that Mexico may have to “rethink how we do ‘neighbour politics.’”
Sandoval did not hold back during the U.S. presidential campaign, frequently urging Mexicans residing in the United States with the right to vote to go to the polls.
Since taking office in 2014 the governor has vigorously courted north-of-the-border businesses, especially in the technology sector. Jalisco has become a major technology hub over the past two decades and any future hiccups in Mexico-U.S. trade could seriously affect the state’s economic wellbeing.
Sandoval Wednesday called for Mexico’s 32 governors to join forces and show a “united front” to face up to Trump’s bullying and threats to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico.
The governor’s exasperation surfaced again Thursday when Sandoval responded forcefully to Trump’s tweet that if Mexico is unwilling to pay for the “badly needed” border wall, then it would be “better to cancel” his upcoming meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.
“Dignity is not negotiable. We aren’t going to pay anything. You have our repudiation from Jalisco. A fraternal hug to the North American people.”
Meanwhile, Sandoval continues to develop measures designed to reduce any ill effects the U.S. president’s anti-Mexican policies might have on Jalisco. The governor says he will lead a trade mission to California February 13-17 in search of new investment, and has instructed his staff to draw up measures to assist Mexicans and their families who are either facing deportation from the United States, or have returned to Jalisco and are unable to find work.
Sandoval said he will earmark funds from state coffers to help deportees start their own businesses.
An estimated 1.5 million jaliscienses live in the United States, and 2.6 million Americans born there have parents from this state. Jalisco has permanent centers to attend to its citizens’ needs in Los Angeles and Chicago. Staff there have been instructed to provide every possible assistance, both legal and psychological, to any expat who seeks it.