In a campaign rally held in Wisconsin, former United States President and Republican candidate Donald Trump once again targeted undocumented immigrants, describing their entry into the country as "an invasion of criminal savages." Trump launched a scathing critique against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing them of mismanaging border security, and reiterated his vow to carry out "the largest deportation" in the nation's history if he is re-elected.
"It's an invasion of criminal savages," Trump declared before an audience of over 2,000 attendees in the crucial battleground state for the upcoming November 5 elections. "We're allowing terrible people to cross the border," he stated, as reported by the EFE news agency. "Millions are coming from prisons, jails, mental institutions, and asylums. (...) They're taking over cities, seizing buildings, and coming in with violence," he added.
Trump's Controversial Claims and Promises
Trump has previously stirred controversy during the first (and so far only) debate with Harris, his Democratic opponent, by claiming that immigrants consume pets in border towns. In September, he emphasized that his plan for mass deportations—if victorious in the election—would commence in Ohio and Colorado. "We will conduct the largest deportation in our country's history," he announced to reporters from Rancho Palos Verdes, California. "And we'll start with Springfield and Aurora," according to a CBS News report.
Furthermore, Trump pledged to immediately terminate the humanitarian parole program and the CBP One mobile app, both immigration measures introduced by the Biden administration.
Criticism of Federal Response to Hurricane Helene
Besides his remarks on immigration, Trump used the rally to criticize the federal government's response to Hurricane Helene, which recently devastated the southeastern United States, resulting in over 230 fatalities. He accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of providing a "disastrous response" and perpetuated an internet rumor, claiming that funds were diverted to assist migrants instead of hurricane victims.
In contrast, Harris visited North Carolina, the hardest-hit state by Helene, on Saturday. She defended FEMA's efforts and assured that federal aid would offer "long-term" support to those impacted by the disaster.