Mexico slams US Republican bill tightening border security

FILE PHOTO: Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard speaks ahead of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S. December 16, 2022. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's foreign minister on Friday slammed a bill approved a day earlier by U.S. Republican lawmakers that would tighten immigration policy and restart work on a southwestern border wall, accusing backers of peddling racism against Mexicans.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved the legislation, which would require asylum seekers to apply for U.S. protection outside the country. It would also resume work on the wall promoted by former president Donald Trump.