Restaurant removing billboards referencing US-Mexico wall

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – An Indiana restaurant chain is removing billboards referencing a proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

Referring to a campaign promise by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Hacienda Mexican Restaurant’s signs proclaimed it has “The Best Mexican Food This Side Of The Wall.”

Hacienda executive vice-president Jeff Leslie says he didn’t expect the backlash from the Hispanic community.

Sam Centellas is executive director of La Casa de Amistad community centre in South Bend. He says the billboards are offensive because “wall” has taken on a political connotation.

Leslie says the message touting his company’s 20 Indiana restaurants has been overshadowed by the controversy. He says the 26 billboards should be down by Friday.