Trump waves at migrants he's trying to keep out at the US-Mexico border
Eric Gay/AP Photo
- Donald Trump waved at migrants at the southern border and exclaimed that they like him.
- Trump has proposed launching a mass deportation campaign if reelected in 2024.
- On a rival visit, Biden urged Trump to support a bipartisan border security package.
Former President Donald Trump waved and pumped his fist at migrants at the southern border with Mexico — the very same ones he is trying to keep out of the country.
"They like Trump, can you believe it?" an amused Trump said while visiting the border near the Rio Grande in Texas on Thursday.
"They like me, governor," Trump added to Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, who was taking him on a border tour.
Trump has suggested that he would launch the largest deportation campaign in history if he's reelected in 2024, among other stringent measures to keep migrants out.
Not long after he waved at the migrants, Trump gave a speech at Eagle Pass in which he said Biden had the "blood of countless innocent victims" on his hands" because of his immigration policies.
He listed specific cases in which undocumented immigrants were reported to have attacked people, including the killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley, whose death has grabbed national attention.
"The monster charged in the death is an illegal alien migrant who was led into our country and released into our country by crooked Joe Biden," Trump said.
Despite such individual cases, studies have found that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than US-born individuals.
President Biden tells Trump — 'join me'
Andres Leighton/AP Photo
President Joe Biden simultaneously visited another border town across the state on Thursday as both tried to score political points on the flash point issue of immigration as the November election nears.
Polls show that immigration is one of Biden's major vulnerabilities, and Trump has continued to highlight his contrastingly draconian approach.
On his rival Texas visit, Biden urged Trump to help him pass his proposed border security package, which Republicans tanked under Trump's orders.
On his rival Texas visit, Biden urged Trump to help him pass his proposed border security package, which was tanked by Republicans under Trump's orders.
The package would see billions of dollars put toward staff and resources on the southern border, where officials have been overwhelmed by a surge in migrant crossings.
"Here's what I would say to Mr Trump," Biden said. "Instead of playing politics with the issue, instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me."
"You know, and I know it's the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country's ever seen. So instead of playing politics with the issue, why don't we just get together and get it done?" Biden said.