New Zealand minister under fire over 'send Mexicans home' remark

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
30 Jan 2025 08:12

New Zealand’s fisheries minister sparked backlash by shouting “send the Mexicans home” in parliament, refusing to apologize despite criticism from a Mexico-born MP and rebuke from the prime minister.

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon alighted from a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft in Port Moresby on June 16, 2024 (AFP/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Luxon rebuked a senior minister on Thursday after he shouted "send the Mexicans home" during a parliamentary immigration debate, in a nod to US President Donald Trump.

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones made the remark earlier in the week and refused to apologize after a Mexico-born opposition MP condemned it as "outwardly racist and xenophobic."

Jones followed up by saying, "Call Mr Trump. Call Mr Trump," and later told Radio NZ, "Look, it’s a Mexican standoff. I wouldn’t worry about it too much." Speaking to news website Stuff, he added, "If these foreign-born New Zealanders are not going to show respect to the culture of New Zealand, then I’m going to call them out."

His comments appeared directed at Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez March, who was born in Mexico. March accused Jones of taking "a page from the Trump playbook" and attempting to alienate migrant communities.

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Jones, a Cabinet minister from the nationalist NZ First party, is part of New Zealand’s three-way governing coalition.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon urged restraint on Thursday, saying, "Everybody just needs to watch their rhetoric."

Luxon’s government recently tightened visa rules following a migration surge last year, restricting how long low-skilled workers can stay.

Meanwhile, US President Trump has taken swift action on immigration since returning to office earlier this month. On his first day, he declared a national emergency at the southern border and pledged to deport "millions and millions" of migrants.