Former President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that the United States has become “like a garbage can” for the rest of the world due to its immigration policies. This statement was made during a rally focused on immigration in Tempe, Arizona, just two weeks before the election.
“They unleashed an army of migrant gangs waging a campaign of violence,” Trump stated, using strong language to describe undocumented immigrants. “We’re a dumping ground. We’re like a garbage can for the world.”
Throughout his campaign, immigration has been a key issue for Trump. He has often highlighted incidents involving undocumented immigrants and blamed them for rising crime rates.
Recent statistics indicate that border crossings have decreased significantly. In September, Border Patrol agents apprehended fewer than 54,000 individuals attempting to cross into the U.S., the lowest number since August 2020, during Trump’s presidency.
At the rally, Trump reiterated several of his immigration promises, including a commitment to eliminate sanctuary cities. He also proposed implementing the death penalty for undocumented immigrants who kill U.S. citizens and urged Congress to add 10,000 new border patrol agents. Additionally, he pledged to revive the “stay in Mexico” policy, which required migrants to remain in Mexico while waiting for their asylum hearings—this policy was ended by the Biden administration.
“You got millions of people pouring in,” Trump said. “And we are just not going to let it all happen.”
Trump intensified his criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris, frequently referring to her as “stupid.” He cited her recent comments in a CNN town hall in Pennsylvania, where she asserted that Trump “didn’t do much of anything” regarding immigration. Harris expressed a desire for legal immigration pathways but insisted that “people have to earn it.”
Harris also reaffirmed her support for a bipartisan bill that allocates $650 million for a border wall, despite having previously criticized similar initiatives.
“We need a president who is grounded in common sense and practical outcomes,” Harris stated. “Like, let’s just fix this thing.”
Arizona is considered a crucial swing state in the upcoming election, with early in-person voting already underway. Both Trump and Harris have made campaign stops in the state, where recent polls suggest Trump holds a slight lead, although it is within the margin of error.
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