While campaigning in Austin, Texas recently, former President Donald Trump referred to the victims of what Vice President Kamala Harris labeled as “woke celebrities” rather than referring to them as “immigration crimes.” criticized for being involved.
Calls for stricter immigration policies
In a speech to about 200 supporters, President Trump emphasized his stance on immigration reform, proposed the largest deportation initiative in U.S. history, and proposed the death penalty for immigrants convicted of murdering Americans. insisted. The rhetoric comes against the backdrop of a polarized campaign, with Harris hosting a high-profile rally in Houston focused on abortion rights.
Mr. Trump was joined by Alexis Nungaray, the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a young woman who was tragically killed by two Venezuelans in Houston earlier this year. President Trump accused Harris of ignoring such victims, claiming, “She won’t talk to grieving mothers by taking away the brightest light in their lives.”
Gather Republican support ahead of midterm elections
The Texas trip was a platform for President Trump to boost other Republican candidates, including Sen. Ted Cruz, who faces a tighter-than-expected race against his Democratic challenger, Rep. Colin Allred. . Polls show Mr. Cruz leading by just a few points, making the race a likely deciding factor for control of the Senate. Mr. Cruz did not appear on stage, but President Trump expressed his support for him, calling him a “warrior” for Texas and the country.
Mr. Cruz highlighted the ideological divide between himself and Mr. Allred, citing contrasting campaign events. “There is no better way to sum up this campaign than to see President Trump and I stand together while Mr. Allred and Ms. Harris demonstrate their skills,” Cruz said. The support could rally undecided voters aligned with President Trump’s hard-line immigration policies, which remain a top priority for many Texans.
Focus on immigration and borders
Immigration has become a central issue for the Trump campaign as it seeks to retake the White House. President Trump argues that permissive immigration policies are encouraging crime, even though immigration numbers have recently declined after peaking in early 2021. President Trump continues to link rising crime rates to illegal immigration, even though studies show that immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than native-born citizens. His proposed solutions include a massive deportation operation in Texas, with plans to build “vast holding facilities” near the southern border for migrants awaiting deportation.
Former White House aide Stephen Miller, an architect of President Trump’s early immigration policies, explained the plans for these detention facilities to the New York Times, saying vacant land near the Texas border could be the site of a mass deportation operation. He explained that it has the potential to function as a transit point. This approach specifically targets Texas and could affect the more than 2 million undocumented immigrants estimated to reside in the state, many of whom live in mixed-status families.
Texas Republican lawmakers, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, also attended to voice their support. Paxton, who was impeached last year on corruption charges but later acquitted, received a warm welcome from the audience. President Trump voiced support, saying the false accusations would only increase Paxton’s popularity and calling the situation “bullshit.”
