US Democrats -lambast Trump’s 'poisonous' rhetoric

US Democratic lawmakers visiting Mexico City on Monday assailed Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about immigrants, with one member of Congress decrying his “poisonous rhetoric.” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi led a congressional delegation from border states during a visit that included talks with President Enrique Pena Nieto about trade, security and immigration. Mexico’s government has criticized Trump for calling Mexican immigrants rapists and said it would not pay for a wall along the border as demanded by the Republican frontrunner if he is elected president. “I know that many people are very concerned about the remarks against immigrants, but I can assure you that we fight every day against this poisonous rhetoric,” US Representative Linda Sanchez of California said in Spanish at a news conference. Ruben Gallego, a lawmaker from Arizona, said “Donald Trump’s rhetoric is not a reflection of the United States’ opinion of our neighbors and friends, the Mexicans.” Henry Cuellar said people from his home state of Texas do not want walls, as they “know that the Rio Grande doesn’t divide us, it unifies us as two nations.” Vice President Joe Biden said during his own visit to Mexico City in February that he felt “almost obliged to apologize” for the comments made about Mexicans during the Republican primary race.