During a rally in Arizona, Donald Trump energized his supporters with a mix of his usual no-holds-barred commentary and promises for a stricter immigration policy. The former president, who’s in a close race with Kamala Harris, didn’t hold back on two familiar targets: immigration reform and what he calls the “woke mind virus.” In a lighthearted exchange, Trump praised a woman in the crowd as “beautiful” but quickly bemoaned the “crazy” nature of political correctness, suggesting he might face backlash for the compliment. “You’re not allowed to say that,” he quipped before mock-whispering, “but she is!”
Shifting focus, Trump pledged to hire 10,000 new border patrol agents if he’s reelected, with a plan to raise agent pay by 10% and offer a $10,000 signing and retention bonus. Supported by leaders of the Border Patrol union, Trump vowed, “This will ensure that we can hire and keep the Border Patrol agents that we need.” His call comes after he played a part in blocking a bipartisan border security bill, which would have added 1,500 agents and 1,600 asylum officers. Harris and Biden criticized Trump’s opposition, accusing him of prioritizing political points over national security.
The rally underscores immigration as a crucial battleground issue. Trump has recently intensified his anti-immigration stance, referring to some undocumented immigrants involved in violent crimes as “monsters” and “stone-cold killers.” This rhetoric, while popular among his base, has sparked criticism, with studies consistently showing that immigrants don’t commit crimes at a higher rate than U.S.-born citizens. Harris, meanwhile, has countered with her own plans for reform, aiming for tighter asylum laws and prioritizing the battle against fentanyl trafficking.
As Election Day approaches, Trump’s uncompromising stance continues to fuel heated debate, with immigration policy standing as a pivotal issue in this high-stakes race.
