Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Migration
Former President Donald Trump has ignited controversy once again with his inflammatory remarks regarding migrants in the United States. During an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump stated that many migrants possess "bad genes," linking genetics to criminal behavior. He claimed that these so-called "bad genes" are responsible for allowing murderers into the country, specifically targeting his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, for her immigration policies.
Misinterpretation of Statistics
Trump's assertions were backed by statistics that experts have deemed misleading. He referenced a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which mentioned over 13,000 individuals convicted of murder on a non-detainee list. However, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security clarified that these statistics date back decades and include individuals who entered the U.S. long before the current administration. Fact-checkers have noted that blaming the Biden administration for these figures is inaccurate, as many of these cases were already known to ICE prior to his presidency.
Reactions from the White House and Trump’s Campaign
The White House condemned Trump's rhetoric as "hateful" and "disgusting," with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating that such language has no place in American discourse. In contrast, Trump’s campaign defended his comments, arguing that he was specifically referring to murderers rather than all immigrants. This rhetoric marks a continuation of Trump’s long-standing controversial stance on immigration, reminiscent of his initial campaign in 2015 where he labeled immigrants as "rapists" and promised to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
