Mexican minister slams Donald Trump's remarks on migrants, calling them 'absurd'

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's Interior Minister hit back on Tuesday at "absurd" remarks made by United States billionaire and presidential candidate Donald Trump, who said Mexican migrants were bringing crime and drugs to the United States.

Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said Mr Trump, who made the comments during his 2016 White House campaign announcement, was seeking to "generate controversy".

"The remarks by Donald Trump seem prejudicial and absurd," Mr Osorio Chong told reporters after an anti-discrimination event in Mexico City. "He surely doesn't know the contributions made by migrants from practically every nation in the world, who have supported the development of the United States."

Speaking from his Trump Tower in New York, the 69-year-old property tycoon announced his candidacy, ridiculed his opponents and launched into a tirade against Mexico. "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best," he said. "They're sending people that have lots of problems... They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists."

Mr Trump promised to build a huge wall cross the 3,000km border to keep migrants out.

"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words," he said.