Donald Trump’s Immigration Controversy
Donald Trump had planned to focus on criticizing one of his Democratic rivals, Kamala Harris, by highlighting one of her major political vulnerabilities. However, instead of sticking to this, he spent most of the week spreading a false claim that migrants in a small Ohio town were eating pets. At the same time, he also defended his connection to a far-right supporter, which is causing unease even among some of his own supporters.
Trump’s Claims and Controversies
Trump’s ongoing repetition of baseless social media rumors about Haitian migrants in Ohio eating pets grabbed headlines during his trip out West this week. His visits included stops in Arizona and Nevada. These claims ended up overshadowing several speeches that were meant to focus on the economy and criticize Kamala Harris for her role in border security failures.
At a news conference in California on Friday, Trump promised “large deportations” from Springfield, Ohio, a town that has become a political flashpoint. Both Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, have been spreading false claims that Haitian immigrants eat pets, which has further fueled the ongoing controversy.
Focus on Specific Incidents
Springfield’s website states that around 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants reside in Clark County. It further clarifies that Haitian immigrants are in the country legally due to a program that permits U.S. citizens and legal residents to bring their family members from Haiti to the United States.
Trump also drew attention to a Venezuelan gang in Aurora, Colorado. Using dehumanizing language, he described undocumented immigrants as “nests of bad people” being dumped into the United States.
The Impact of Trump’s Remarks
It’s like an invasion from within, Trump said. We’re going to have the largest deportation in the history of our country, and we’re going to start with Springfield and Aurora. The people of Ohio are scared, Trump said. Things are going to get even worse. It’s going to become really bad. What we’re experiencing now is only the start.
Later on Friday, Trump repeated these thoughts at a rally in Las Vegas. “We are being invaded, like if it were an army. But it’s even harder because they don’t wear uniforms, so you don’t know who to go after,” he said.
Why Trump Targets Harris on Immigration
Republicans see immigration and border security as crucial political issues for their party. They believe these topics are powerful tools for criticizing Kamala Harris, who they’ve labeled as President Joe Biden’s “border czar.” This term originates from Biden’s 2021 request for Harris to lead diplomatic efforts with El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to tackle the root causes of migration to the United States.
Reactions and Consequences
During Tuesday’s debate, Trump’s attacks on Harris regarding immigration took a disturbing turn when he falsely claimed that migrants in Springfield are eating dogs and cats. These outrageous remarks drew a strong rebuke from Biden.
“It’s simply wrong, and there’s no place for it in America. What he’s doing has to stop,” Biden said during a Black Excellence brunch hosted at the White House on Friday.
Local Reactions and Safety Concerns
On Thursday, Springfield’s city hall was closed due to a bomb threat. Additionally, two elementary schools in Springfield were evacuated on Friday following information from the Springfield Police Division, according to the Springfield City School District.
On Thursday night, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue urged national candidates—clearly referring to Trump and Vance—to “pay attention to what their words are doing to cities like ours. We need help, not hate,” Rue added. On Friday, Trump dismissed these concerns, saying, “No, no. The real threat is what’s happening at our border.”
On Friday, Pope Francis sharply criticized Trump for his stance on immigration and also condemned Kamala Harris for her support of abortion rights.
“The act of sending migrants away, abandoning them wherever you want, is something terrible and evil,” the Pope said. “To separate a child from its mother’s womb is an act of assassination because there is life. We must speak about these issues clearly.”
Vance’s Response
Vance, Trump’s running mate, argued that Trump’s comments sparked a discussion about immigration, even though he admitted on X that the rumors fueling the story were flimsy. On Tuesday, Vance posted, It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false. However, the accuracy of the claims didn’t seem to be his main concern.
Don’t let biased media shame you into avoiding discussion about this slow-moving humanitarian crisis in a small Ohio town, he posted on X on Friday. We should talk about it every single day. Kamala Harris caused this, and she’ll keep doing it unless we stop her.
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