(Adnkronos) – The State Department has announced the start of a review of the 53 Mexican consulates in the United States, the latest sign of growing tensions between the Trump administration and Mexico, a close and traditional US partner. The State Department did not provide details on this review but stated that it could lead to the closure of diplomatic offices, the New York Times reports today.
The move comes after weeks of reports circulating in American right-wing media accusing American consulates of interfering with American politics and encouraging mass immigration to the US. These accusations largely originated from Peter Schweizer, a journalist for the far-right Breitbart News website, which promotes conspiracy theories about foreign influence. He reported that Mexican consulate officials allegedly praised protests against the Trump administration’s deportation policies, helped migrants targeted by ICE raids, and distributed Spanish-language manuals in some schools to discourage the assimilation of Mexican immigrants.
The Mexican government has on several occasions disputed the veracity of these claims, which were described as “absolutely false” by President Claudia Sheinbaum. “There is nothing political in consular work, only the commitment to ensure that people’s rights are respected,” reads a post from the Mexican embassy in Washington in response to Schweizer’s accusations.
