Donald Trump Is Going To Mexico To Meet With The Country's President

Gerald Herbert / AP

Donald Trump said Tuesday night he will make a last-minute trip to Mexico on Wednesday to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto, just hours before the Republican presidential nominee is expected to deliver an address on his immigration policy.

Trump confirmed the visit in a tweet.

Peña Nieto sent out an invitation to both Trump and Hillary Clinton last week, the office of the Mexican president said. Trump began considering taking up the offer as he faced increased scrutiny over contradicting statements over his immigration policy.

The Washington Post first reported the possible visit, citing sources in Mexico and the US. Mexico's government later confirmed Trump and Peña Nieto would meet privately.

Trump has made immigration a hallmark of his campaign, repeatedly stating he would build a wall along the US-Mexico border and make the Mexican government pay for it.

But Trump's comments have caught the ire of current and former Mexican officials, who have criticized him for his comments and have said repeatedly Mexico will not be paying for the wall.

Peña Nieto himself has not criticized Trump, but has said "There is no way that Mexico can pay [for] a wall like that."

Trump has talked on the campaign trail about creating a deportation force and has repeatedly tried to link crime rates with illegal immigration from Mexico.

But in recent days, Trump indicated to Hispanic leaders that he would be open to the legalization of immigrants.

During a recent interview on Fox News, the candidate said he would be open to "softening" his position on deportation.

Days letter, however, Trump and his campaign appeared to backtrack. He and surrogates of his campaign stated his immigration policy remained the same, but offered no specifics about his previous comments about a "deportation force" or what he would do with approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US.

The visit also comes as Peña Nieto faces an approval rating of 23 percent, the lowest he's faced since taking office in Dec. 2012.

LINK: In Reversal, Trump Indicates To Hispanic Leaders Openness To Legalization For Immigrants

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