Mexico's president says he'll hold a "unity" rally on the border in Tijuana two days before the U.S. is set to impose tariffs on all Mexican imports.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced a demonstration will be held Saturday to defend Mexico's "dignity" amid a looming US tariffs threat.
US President Donald Trump has pledged to impose 5% tariffs on Mexican products unless the country prevents Central American migrants from travelling through its territory.
Mr.Lopez Obrador expressed confidence an agreement could be reached as talks continued, but did not offer any specifics beyond rejecting the use of force against migrants.
"I am calling together the people of Mexico ... for a rally to defend the dignity of Mexico, and in favour of friendship with the people of the United States," said the president.
Lopez Obrador confirmed two immigration activists had been taken into custody but denied the arrests were carried out to please the U.S. government.
"We do not act against anybody to please any foreign government," he said.
Donald Trump wants Mexico to do more to stem a huge increase in the number of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador who cross Mexico to reach the U.S. border.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has announced that 6,000 members of the National Guard will be deployed to its southern border with Guatemala to help control the flow of migrants.
The bank accounts of 26 people allegedly linked to organising migrant caravans have been frozen.
Mexicans know tariffs could seriously damage their economy, and they largely support Lopez Obrador's conciliatory approach.
On Wednesday, Mexican police and immigration agents blocked the advance of about 1,000 Central American migrants who were walking along a highway in southern Mexico.
Mexicans know tariffs could seriously damage their economy, and they largely support Lopez Obrador's conciliatory approach
