Mexico City, Jul 9 (IANS): Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has described as "vulgar" and "backward" a new immigration order issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

"It is an aberration, we do not agree with it. It is extremely vulgar and has no legal basis," Xinhua news agency quoted Lopez Obrador as saying on Friday.

Abbott issued the executive order on Thursday authorising state forces to apprehend migrants and return them to the US-Mexico border.

Lopez Obrador said the Governor "is not legally allowed to make that decision" because "it has to do with the US federal government".

He added that Abbott's statements and actions are framed within the political campaign for state elections in November.

"They are looking for sensationalism and yellow journalism, they think that way they will gain sympathy," the President said.

He also criticised the existence of "anti-migrant campaigns with electoral purposes" in the US, which he described as "immoral" and "politicking".

Abbott's authorization followed other decisions he's made on immigration that have generated controversy between Mexico and the US.