Trump advocates stronger immigration policies and border security

08/27/2024 / By Laura Harris

Former President Donald Trump has visited the United States’ southern border with Mexico to advocate stronger immigration policies and border security.

The event, part of a nationwide tour titled “Make America Safe Again,” was held in Sierra Vista, Arizona the same day Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Aug. 22.

During the visit, Trump, who reiterated his stance on the importance of strong border security, met with the sheriff of Cochise County, Border Patrol officials, local law enforcement and families who lost loved ones to crimes committed by immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally since President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

“What Biden and Kamala have done to the families here with me and so many others, thousands and thousands of others, not only killed but also really badly hurt, badly hurt to a point where they’ll never lead a normal life again. It’s shameful, and it’s evil… You need strong borders and strong elections, and we have neither,” Trump told the crowd, claiming that the Biden administration has weakened national security.

In line with this, Trump pledged to initiate the largest deportation effort in U.S. history if reelected in November. He called for stringent penalties for “illegal immigrant criminals,” including a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence for human smugglers, life imprisonment for convicted child traffickers and death penalty for sex traffickers or major drug offensives. Additionally, Trump proposed the death penalty for any illegal immigrant convicted of killing a law enforcement official. (Related: Trump vows to implement the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if re-elected as president in 2024.)

Trump: Kamala supports open borders

Moreover, Trump accused Harris of supporting “open borders” and allowing a “nation-wrecking border invasion” as 20 million illegal immigrants from 158 countries entered the U.S. during Harris’ tenure as vice president. He then warned the crowd that Harris’ support for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the closure of detention facilities and free health care to undocumented immigrants could lead to “mass amnesty” and further strain on Social Security and Medicare.

The former president stressed that his immigration and border policies contradict those of Harris. He said the focus under his leadership would be on deporting criminals rather than offering them amnesty. “The choice is simple: Kamala’s mass amnesty of criminals or President Trump’s deportation of criminals,” Trump said.

This Arizona visit came a day after Democrats criticized Trump at the DNC for his border policies.

Democratic officials at the convention argued that they are providing the true leadership needed on border issues and not Trump.

“When it comes to the border, hear me when I say, ‘You know nothing, Donald Trump,'” said Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), who represents the border city of El Paso. “He and his Republican imitators see the border and immigration as a political opportunity to exploit instead of an issue to address.”

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, a Democrat, also accused Trump of failing to support local law enforcement in border towns. He even dismissed the former president’s border visits as a self-serving photo opportunity.

“When Donald Trump comes down to Texas, stands next to officers in uniforms just like mine, he’s not there to help us. Don’t think that for a second. He is a self-serving man,” Salazar said.

Visit Trump.news for more stories about the former president’s 2024 campaign.

Watch Todd Bensman of the Center for Immigration Studies discussing the prospect of America accepting Palestinian refugees below.

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