MEXICO CITY, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Immigration problems cannot be solved with raids or violence but rather through "comprehensive immigration reform" that recognizes the role of migrants in the United States, especially those who have lived there for years, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday.
At her daily morning press conference, Sheinbaum voiced opposition to mass arrest and deportation of undocumented migrants in the United States.
Many Mexicans and other Latin Americans have lived in the United States for over a decade and are well-integrated into society, she said, noting that the U.S. economy relies on their participation in the labor force.
In the wake of protests in the U.S. state of California against the immigration crackdown, Sheinbaum urged demonstrators to remain peaceful and avoid violence.
"The call is to avoid violent actions and to support each other as we always do," she said, stressing that protests should "always be peaceful."
"Our position has always been to defend Mexicans living in the United States," she added, renewing a call for "comprehensive immigration reform" that acknowledges the contribution of migrants who have lived in the country for years.
The ongoing protest in downtown Los Angeles over immigration raids in California started last weekend, when hundreds of protesters clashed with U.S. National Guard troops. ■