UpdateTrump tells Mexican president in surprise trip US will build wall to keep immigrants out, but did not raise who will pay for it

Donald Trump told Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday that the United States has the right to build a border wall to halt illegal immigration, but the Republican presidential candidate did not bring up his demand that Mexico pay for it.

In an unexpected trip to a country which he has frequently vilified for illegal immigration and drug smuggling, Trump held talks with the Mexican leader at his residence for about an hour.

“We did discuss the wall, we didn’t discuss payment of the wall, that will be at a later date, this was a very preliminary meeting. It was an excellent meeting,” Trump said.

The unexpected trip comes as Trump seeks to clarify his stand on illegal immigration, a contentious issue that has been a centrepiece of his Republican presidential campaign.

Trump has long called for deporting people currently living in the US illegally and building a wall along the country’s border with Mexico.

But in meetings recently with Hispanic supporters, Trump has suggested he could be open to changing the hardline approach he outlined during the Republican primaries.

After one such roundtable this month, his new campaign manager said Trump’s stance on deportations was “to be determined”.