Trump Criticizes Biden Administration’s Border Policies in Arizona Visit.
On a remote dirt road in Arizona, former President Donald Trump showcased a stretch of border wall and a pile of steel beams to highlight the differences between his border security approach and that of his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
During his visit, which was themed “Make America Safe Again,” Trump was joined by grieving mothers, the sheriff of Cochise County, and the head of the Border Patrol union. They all supported his hardline stance on border security.
Paul Perez, president of the Border Patrol union, drew a clear contrast: “To my right is what we call Trump wall. This was built under President Trump. To my left, we have what we call Kamala wall. It’s just lying there, doing nothing.”
The Biden administration has yet to respond to requests for comment on the current state of border wall construction.
Trump’s visit was part of a series of events aimed at shifting attention away from Democrats’ celebration of Harris’ presidential nomination in Chicago. During the convention, speakers accused Trump of exploiting border issues to rally his base by demonizing immigrants.
At the event, Trump was accompanied by the mothers of children killed in crimes involving suspects who were in the U.S. illegally. Trump often highlights such cases to criticize Biden’s policies, although some studies suggest that immigrants are less likely than native-born Americans to commit violent crimes.
“I want everyone to understand how crucial border control is because we’re losing innocent people to terrible crimes,” said Alexis Nungaray, whose 12-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, was strangled to death in Houston in June.
Security at the Arizona event was tight. Snipers were stationed at elevated positions with their sights set on Mexico, and security forces, including armed personnel and state police, were visible on both sides of the border.
Trump condemned the Biden administration’s handling of border issues, stating, “What Biden and Kamala have done to families here and thousands of others, not only killed but left many badly hurt, is shameful and evil.”
As part of his tour through battleground states, Trump has also visited Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina. He is scheduled to hold events in Las Vegas and Glendale, Arizona, on Friday. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, previously spoke at a nearby border location.
Recent data shows that Border Patrol apprehended more than 250,000 migrants in the Tucson sector, including Cochise County, in the first four months of 2024—the highest in any region patrolled by the agency. However, illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border have recently dropped to their lowest levels in years, according to Customs and Border Protection data. This decline follows President Biden’s asylum restrictions and actions by Mexico to prevent migrants from heading north.
Democratic leaders argued at the Chicago convention that their party offers genuine solutions to border issues. Rep. Pete Aguilar of California emphasized that Americans do not need to choose between a secure border and building an inclusive America.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, representing El Paso, Texas, criticized Trump’s approach: “He and his Republican allies see the border and immigration as a political tool rather than a real issue to address.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a top Democrat involved in negotiating a bipartisan border deal earlier this year, criticized Republican opposition to the proposal. Murphy claimed the bill would have passed unanimously if not for Trump’s influence.
Trump dismissed the deal as “weak” and “ineffective,” asserting that President Biden could take action without a new bill. “He didn’t need a bill. He knows that,” Trump said. “I didn’t need a bill. I said ‘close the border.'”