I have
just landed having returned from a very important and special meeting with the
President of Mexico – a man I like and respect very much, and a man who truly
loves his country. Just like I am a man who loves the United States.
We agreed
on the importance of ending the illegal flow of drugs, cash, guns and people
across our border, and to put the cartels out of business.
We also
discussed the great contributions of Mexican-American citizens to our two
countries, my love for the people of Mexico, and the close friendship between
our two nations.
It was a
thoughtful and substantive conversation. This is the first of what I expect
will be many conversations in a Trump Administration about creating a new
relationship between our two countries.
But to
fix our immigration system, we must change our leadership in Washington. There
is no other way.
The truth
is, our immigration system is worse than an
one
realizes. But the facts aren't known because the media won't report on them,
the politicians won't talk about them, and the special interests spend a lot of
money trying to cover them up.
Today you
will get the truth.
The
fundamental problem with the immigration system in our country is that it
serves the needs of wealthy donors, political activists and powerful
politicians. Let me tell you who it doesn't serve: it doesn't serve you, the
American people.
When
politicians talk about immigration reform, they usually mean the following:
amnesty, open borders, and lower wages.
Immigration
reform should mean something else entirely: it should mean improvements to our
laws and policies to make life better for American citizens.
But if we
are going to make our immigration system work, then we have to be prepared to
talk honestly and without fear about these important and sensitive issues.
For
instance, we have to listen to the concerns that working people have over the
record pace of immigration and its impact on their jobs, wages, housing,
schools, tax bills, and living conditions. These are valid concerns, expressed
by decent and patriotic citizens from all backgrounds.
We also
have to be honest about the fact that not everyone who seeks to join our
country will be able to successfully assimilate. It is our right as a sovereign
nation to choose immigrants that we think are the likeliest to thrive and
flourish here.
Then
there is the issue of security. Countless innocent American lives have been
stolen because our politicians have failed in their duty to secure our borders
and enforce our laws.
I have
met with many of the parents who lost their children to Sanctuary Cities and
open borders. They will be joining me on the stage later today.
Countless
Americans who have died in recent years would be alive today if not for the
open border policies of this Administration. This includes incredible Americans
like 21-year-old Sarah Root. The man who killed her arrived at the border,
entered federal custody, and then was released into a U.S. community under the
policies of this White House.
He was
released again after the crime, and is now at large.
Sarah had
graduated from college with a 4.0, top of her class, the day before.
Also
among the victims of the Obama-Clinton open borders policies was Grant
Ronnebeck, a 21 year-old convenience store clerk in Mesa, Arizona. He was
murdered by an illegal immigrant gang member previously convicted of burglary
who had also been released from Federal Custody.
Another
victim is Kate Steinle, gunned down in the Sanctuary City of San Francisco by
an illegal immigrant deported five previous times.
Then
there is the case of 90 year-old Earl Olander, who was brutally beaten and left
to bleed to death in his home. The perpetrators were illegal immigrants with
criminal records who did not meet the Obama Administration's priorities for
removal.
In
California, a 64 year-old Air Force Veteran, Marilyn Pharis, was sexually
assaulted and beaten to death with a hammer. Her killer had been arrested on
multiple occasions, but was never deported.
A 2011
report from the Government Accountability Office found that illegal immigrants
and other non-citizens in our prisons and jails together had around 25,000
homicide arrests to their names.
On top of
that, illegal immigration costs our country more than $113 billion dollars a
year. For the money we are going to spend on illegal immigration over the next
ten years, we could provide one million at-risk students with a school voucher.
While
there are many illegal immigrants in our country who are good people, this
doesn't change the fact that most illegal immigrants are lower-skilled workers
with less education who compete directly against vulnerable American workers,
and that these illegal workers draw much more out from the system than they
will ever pay in.
But these
facts are never reported.
Instead,
the media and my opponent discuss one thing, and only this one thing: the needs
of people living here illegally.
The truth
is, the central issue is not the needs of the 11 million illegal immigrants –
or however many there may be.
That has
never been the central issue. It will never be the central issue.
Anyone
who tells you that the core issue is the needs of those living here illegally
has simply spent too much time in Washington.
Only out
of touch media elites think the biggest problem facing American society today
is that there are 11 million illegal immigrants who don't have legal status.
To all
the politicians, donors and special interests, hear these words from me today:
there is only one core issue in the immigration debate and it is this: the
well-being of the American people. Nothing even comes a close second.
Hillary
Clinton, for instance, talks constantly about her fears that families will be
separated. But she's not talking about the American families who have been
permanently separated from their loved ones because of a preventable death.
No, she's
only talking about families who came here in violation of the law.
We will
treat everyone living or residing in our country with dignity. We will be fair,
just and compassionate to all. But our greatest compassion must be for American
citizens.
President
Obama and Hillary Clinton have engaged in gross dereliction of duty by
surrendering the safety of the American people to open borders. President Obama
and Hillary Clinton support Sanctuary Cities, they support catch-and-release on
the border, they support visa overstays, they support the release of dangerous
criminals from detention – and they support unconstitutional executive amnesty.
Hillary
Clinton has pledged amnesty in her first 100 days, and her plan will provide
Obamacare, Social Security and Medicare for illegal immigrants – breaking the
federal budget. On top of that, she promises uncontrolled low-skilled
immigration that continues to reduce jobs and wages for American workers,
especially African-American and Hispanic workers. This includes her plan to
bring in 620,000 new refugees in a four-year term.
Now that
you've heard about Hillary Clinton's plan – about which she has not answered a
single substantive question – let me tell you about my plan.
While
Hillary Clinton meets only with donors and lobbyists, my plan was crafted with
the input from federal immigration officers, along with top immigration experts
who represent workers, not corporations. I also worked with lawmakers who've
led on this issue on behalf of American citizens for many years, and most
importantly, I've met with the people directly impacted by these policies.
Number
One: We will build a wall along the Southern Border.
On day
one, we will begin working on an impenetrable physical wall on the southern
border. We will use the best technology, including above-and below-ground
sensors, towers, aerial surveillance and manpower to supplement the wall, find
and dislocate tunnels, and keep out the criminal cartels, and Mexico will pay
for the wall.
Number
Two: End Catch-And-Release
Under my
Administration, anyone who illegally crosses the border will be detained until
they are removed out of our country.
Number
Three: Zero tolerance for criminal aliens.
According
to federal data, there are at least 2 million criminal aliens now inside the
country. We will begin moving them out day one, in joint operations with local,
state and federal law enforcement.
Beyond
the 2 million, there are a vast number of additional criminal illegal
immigrants who have fled or evaded justice. But their days on the run will soon
be over. They go out, and they go out fast.
Moving
forward, we will issue detainers for all illegal immigrants who are arrested
for any crime whatsoever, and they will be placed into immediate removal
proceedings. We will terminate the Obama Administration's deadly
non-enforcement policies that allow thousands of criminal aliens to freely roam
our streets.
Since
2013 alone, the Obama Administration has allowed 300,000 criminal aliens to
return back into U.S. communities – these are individuals encountered or
identified by ICE but who not detained or processed for deportation.
My plan
also includes cooperating closely with local jurisdictions to remove criminal
aliens.
We will
restore the highly successful Secure Communities program. We will expand and
revitalize the popular 287(g) partnerships, which will help to identify
hundreds of thousands of deportable aliens in local jails. Both of these
programs have been recklessly gutted by this Administration. This is yet one
more area where we are headed in a totally opposite direction.
On my
first day in office, I am also going to ask Congress to pass "Kate's
Law" – named for Kate Steinle – to ensure that criminal aliens convicted
of illegal reentry face receive strong mandatory minimum sentences.
Another
reform I am proposing is the passage of legislation named for Detective Michael
Davis and Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver, two law enforcement officers recently
killed by a previously-deported illegal immigrant. The Davis-Oliver bill will
enhance cooperation with state and local authorities to ensure that criminal
immigrants and terrorists are swiftly identified and removed.
We are
going to triple the number of ICE deportation officers. Within ICE, I am going
to create a new special Deportation Task Force, focused on identifying and
removing quickly the most dangerous criminal illegal immigrants in America who
have evaded justice.
The local
police know who every one of these criminals are. There's no great mystery to
it, they've put up with it for years. And now, finally, we will turn the tables
and law enforcement will be allowed to clear up this dangerous and threatening
mess.
We're
also going to hire 5,000 more Border Patrol agents, and put more of them on the
border, instead of behind desks. We will expand the number of Border Patrol
Stations.
I've had
a chance to spend time with these incredible law enforcement officers, and I
want to take a moment to thank them. The endorsement I've received from the
Border Patrol officers means more to me than I can say.
Number
Four: Block Funding For Sanctuary Cities
We will
end the Sanctuary Cities that have resulted in so many needless deaths. Cities
that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities will not receive taxpayer
dollars, and we will work with Congress to pass legislation to protect those
jurisdictions that do assist federal authorities.
Number
Five: Cancel Unconstitutional Executive Orders & Enforce All Immigration
Laws
We will
immediately terminate President Obama's two illegal executive amnesties, in
which he defied federal law and the constitution to give amnesty to
approximately 5 million illegal immigrants.
Hillary
Clinton has pledged to keep both of these illegal amnesty programs – including
the 2014 amnesty which has been blocked by the Supreme Court. Clinton has also
pledged to add a third executive amnesty.
Clinton's
plan would trigger a Constitutional Crisis unlike almost anything we have ever
seen before. In effect, she would be abolishing the lawmaking powers of
Congress in order to write her own laws from the Oval Office.
In a
Trump Administration, all immigration laws will be enforced. As with any law
enforcement activity, we will set priorities. But, unlike this Administration,
no one will be immune or exempt from enforcement – and ICE and Border Patrol
officers will be allowed to do their jobs. Anyone who has entered the United
States illegally is subject to deportation – that is what it means to have laws
and to have a country.
Our
enforcement priorities will include removing criminals, gang members, security
threats, visa overstays, public charges – that is, those relying on public
welfare or straining the safety net, along with millions of recent illegal
arrivals and overstays who've come here under the current Administration.
Number
Six: We Are Going To Suspend The Issuance Of Visas To Any Place Where Adequate
Screening Cannot Occur
According
to data provided to the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and the National
Interest, between 9/11 and the end of 2014, at least 380 foreign-born
individuals were convicted in terror cases inside the United States. The number
is likely higher, but the Administration refuses to provide this information to
Congress.
As soon
as I enter office, I am going to ask the Department of State, Homeland Security
and the Department of Justice to begin a comprehensive review of these cases in
order to develop a list of regions and countries from which immigration must be
suspended until proven and effective vetting mechanisms can be put into place.
Countries
from which immigration will be suspended would include places like Syria and
Libya.
For the
price of resettling 1 refugee in the United States, 12 could be resettled in a
safe zone in their home region.
Another
reform involves new screening tests for all applicants that include an
ideological certification to make sure that those we are admitting to our
country share our values and love our people.
For
instance, in the last five years, we've admitted nearly 100,000 immigrants from
Iraq and Afghanistan – in these two countries, according to Pew research, a
majority of residents say that the barbaric practice of honor killings against
women are often or sometimes justified.
Applicants
will be asked for their views about honor killings, about respect for women and
gays and minorities, attitudes on Radical Islam, and many other topics as part
of the vetting procedure.
Number
Seven: We will ensure that other countries take their people back when we order
them deported
There are
at least 23 countries that refuse to take their people back after they have
been ordered to leave the United States, including large numbers of violent
criminals. Due to a Supreme Court decision, if these violent offenders cannot
be sent home, our law enforcement officers have to release them into U.S.
communities. There are often terrible consequences, such as Casey Chadwick's
tragic death in Connecticut just last year. Yet, despite the existence of a law
that commands the Secretary of State to stop issuing visas to these countries,
Secretary Hillary Clinton ignored this law and refused to use this powerful
tool to bring nations into compliance.
The
result of her misconduct was the release of thousands of dangerous criminal
aliens who should have been sent home.
According
to a report from the Boston Globe, from the year 2008 through 2014, nearly
13,000 criminal aliens were released back into U.S. communities because their
home countries would not take them back. Many of these 13,000 releases occurred
on Hillary Clinton's watch – she had the power and the duty to stop it cold and
she didn't do it.
Those
released include individuals convicted of killings, sexual assault and some of
the most heinous crimes imaginable, who went on to reoffend at a very high
rate.
Number
Eight: We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system.
For
years, Congress has required a biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, but
it has never been completed.
In my
Administration, we will ensure that this system is in place at all land, air,
and sea ports. Approximately half of new illegal immigrants came on temporary
visas and then never left. Beyond violating our laws, visa overstays pose a
substantial threat to national security. The 9/11 Commission said that this
tracking system should be a high priority and "would have assisted law
enforcement and intelligence officials in August and September 2001 in
conducting a search for two of the 9/11 hijackers that were in the U.S. on
expired visas."
Last year
alone, nearly a half a million individuals overstayed their temporary visas.
Removing visa overstays will be a top priority of my Administration. If people
around the world believe they can just come on a temporary visa and never leave
– the Obama-Clinton policy – then we have a completely open border. We must
send the message that visa expiration dates will be strongly enforced.
Number
Nine: We will turn off the jobs and benefits magnet.
We will
ensure that E-Verify is used to the fullest extent possible under existing law,
and will work with Congress to strengthen and expand its use across the
country.
Immigration
law doesn't exist just for the purpose of keeping out criminals. It exists to
protect all aspects of American life – the worksite, the welfare office, the
education system and much else. That is why immigration limits are established
in the first place. If we only enforce the laws against crime, then we have an
open border to the entire world.
I will
enforce all of our immigration laws.
The same
goes for government benefits. The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that
62 percent of households headed by illegal immigrants used some form of cash or
non-cash welfare programs, like food stamps or housing assistance. This
directly violates the federal public charge law designed to protect the U.S.
treasury.
Those who
abuse our welfare system will be priorities for removal.
Number
10: We will reform legal immigration to serve the best interests of America and
its workers
We've
admitted 59 million immigrants to the United States between 1965 and 2015.
Many of
these arrivals have greatly enriched our country. But we now have an obligation
to them, and to their children, to control future immigration – as we have
following previous immigration waves – to ensure assimilation, integration and
upward mobility.
Within
just a few years immigration as a share of national population is set to break
all historical records.
The time
has come for a new immigration commission to develop a new set of reforms to our
legal immigration system in order to achieve the following goals:
To keep
immigration levels, measured by population share, within historical norms to
select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in U.S. society, and
their ability to be financially self-sufficient. We need a system that serves
our needs – remember, it's America First. To choose immigrants based on merit,
skill and proficiency and to establish new immigration controls to boost wages
and to ensure that open jobs are offered to American workers first. We want
people to come into our country, but they have to come in legally and
properly-vetted, and in a manner that serves the national interest.
We've
been living under outdated immigration rules from decades ago. To avoid this
happening in the future, I believe we should sunset our visa laws so that
Congress is forced to periodically revise and revisit them. We wouldn't put our
entire federal budget on autopilot for decades, so why should we do the same
for immigration?
Let's
talk about the big picture
These ten
steps, if rigorously followed and enforced, will accomplish more in a matter of
months than our politicians have accomplished on this issue in the last fifty
years.
Because I
am not a politician, because I am not beholden to any special interest, I will
get this done for you and your family.
We will
accomplish all of the steps outlined above, and when we do, peace and law and
justice and prosperity will prevail. Crime will go down, border crossings will
plummet, gangs will disappear, and welfare use will decrease. We will have a
peace dividend to spend on rebuilding America, beginning with our inner cities.
For those
here today illegally who are seeking legal status, they will have one route and
only one route: to return home and apply for re-entry under the rules of the
new legal immigration system that I have outlined above. Those who have left to
seek entry under this new system will not be awarded surplus visas, but will
have to enter under the immigration caps or limits that will be established.
We will
break the cycle of amnesty and illegal immigration. There will be no amnesty.
Our
message to the world will be this: you cannot obtain legal status, or become a
citizen of the United States, by illegally entering our country.
This
declaration alone will help stop the crisis of illegal crossings and illegal
overstays.
People
will know that you can't just smuggle in, hunker down, and wait to be
legalized. Those days are over.
In
several years, when we have accomplished all of our enforcement goals – and
truly ended illegal immigration for good, including the construction of a great
wall, and the establishment of our new lawful immigration system – then and
only then will we be in a position to consider the appropriate disposition of
those who remain. That discussion can only take place in an atmosphere in which
illegal immigration is a memory of the past, allowing us to weigh the different
options available based on the new circumstances at the time.
Right
now, however, we are in the middle of a jobs crisis, a border crisis, and a
terrorism crisis. All energies of the federal government and the legislative
process must now be focused on immigration security. That is the only
conversation we should be having at this time.
Whether
it's dangerous materials being smuggled across the border, terrorists entering
on visas, or Americans losing their jobs to foreign workers, these are the
problems we must now focus on fixing – and the media needs to begin demanding
to hear Hillary Clinton's answer on how her policies will affect Americans and
their security.
These are
matters of life-and-death for our country and its people, and we deserve
answers from Hillary Clinton.
What we
do know, despite the total lack of media curiosity, is that Hillary Clinton
promises a radical amnesty combined with a radical reduction in immigration
enforcement. The result will be millions more illegal immigrants, thousands
more violent crimes, and total chaos and lawlessness.
This
election is our last chance to secure the border, stop illegal immigration, and
reform our laws to make your life better.
This is
it. We won't get another opportunity – it will be too late.
So I want
to remind everyone what we are fighting for – and who we are fighting for.
So I am
going to ask all the Angel Moms to come join me on the stage right now.
[[PAUSE
FOR ANGEL MOMS – EACH SAYS THE NAME OF THEIR CHILD INTO THE MICROPHONE]]
Now is
the time for these voices to be heard.
Now is
the time for the media to begin asking questions on their behalf.
Now is
the time for all of us, as one country, Democrat and Republican, liberal and
conservative, to band together to deliver justice and safety and security for
all Americans.
Let's fix
this problem.
Let's
secure our border.
Let's
stop the drugs and the crime.
Let's
protect our Social Security and Medicare.
And let's
get unemployed Americans off of welfare and back to work in their own country.
Together,
we can save American lives, American jobs, and American futures.
Together,
we can save America itself.
Join me
in this mission to Make America Great Again.
Thank
you, and God Bless you all!
