There has been a huge outpouring of support for those who are struggling with Hurricane Harvey, whose torrential winds and unprecedented levels of rain has displaced thousands.
Among those offering support is the Mexican government, who told Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that “Mexico stands with Texas in this difficult moment.”
The government of Mexico offered to help Texas with whatever assistance it could provide “as good neighbors should always do in trying times.”
This level of commitment to help those affected by hurricanes in the United States wouldn’t be unprecedented. Following the devastating outcome of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mexico lent its hand to help, sending in an army convoy and navy vessel to help serve more than 170,000 meals to displaced Americans in Louisiana and deliver more than 180,000 tons of supplies. They have also been credited with saving many lives during their operations.
Mexico’s offer of help comes at a time when relations between the U.S. and its southern neighbor are particularly strained. With President Donald Trump still suggesting that Mexico will eventually pay for his proposed wall between the two nations, it would be understandable if the salty relationship between Mexico and the U.S. could have prevented such an offer of good will.
Indeed, just two days after Harvey officially made landfall in Texas, Trump took to Twitter to bemoan Mexico as one of the “highest crime nations in the world.”
With Mexico being one of the highest crime Nations in the world, we must have THE WALL. Mexico will pay for it through reimbursement/other.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
It is not clear as of press time whether American officials will formally accept Mexico’s offer to assist in the efforts to help hundreds of thousands of displaced Americans again.
