During a recent campaign stop in Austin, Texas, former President Donald Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her association with “woke celebrities” rather than addressing victims of what he labeled “migrant crime.”
A Call for Tougher Immigration Policies
Speaking before around 200 supporters, Trump highlighted his stance on immigration reform, proposing the largest deportation initiative in U.S. history and advocating for the death penalty for migrants convicted of killing American citizens. This rhetoric came amid a polarized campaign backdrop, with Harris hosting a high-profile rally in Houston focused on abortion rights.
Trump was joined by Alexis Nungaray, the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a young woman tragically killed in Houston earlier this year, allegedly by two Venezuelan nationals. Trump accused Harris of ignoring such victims, claiming, “She’ll not speak to the grieving mothers from whom she has stolen the brightest light in their life.”
Rallying Republican Support Ahead of Midterms
The Texas visit served as a stage for Trump to boost other Republican candidates, including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who faces a closer-than-expected reelection race against Democratic challenger U.S. Representative Colin Allred. Polls show Cruz leading by just a few points, making the contest a potential decider for Senate control. Although Cruz did not appear on stage, Trump voiced his endorsement, calling him a “fighter” for Texas and the country.
Cruz emphasized the ideological divide between himself and Allred, noting the contrasting campaign events. “I couldn’t ask for a better summation of this campaign than Allred and Harris arm and arm at the same time that President Trump and I are standing together,” Cruz stated. The endorsement could rally undecided voters who align with Trump’s hardline immigration stance, which remains a top priority for many Texans.
Focus on Immigration and the Border
Immigration has become a central issue in Trump’s campaign to retake the White House. Despite recent declines in migrant crossings since their peak in early 2021, Trump argues that lenient immigration policies fuel crime. While studies show immigrants generally commit fewer crimes than native-born citizens, Trump continues to link rising crime rates to undocumented migration. His proposed solution involves large-scale deportation operations in Texas, with plans to build “vast holding facilities” near the southern border for migrants awaiting deportation.
Former White House aide Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s earlier immigration policies, described plans for these holding facilities to the New York Times, explaining that Texas’s open lands near the border could serve as staging areas for high-volume deportation operations. This approach, targeting Texas specifically, could impact the more than 2 million undocumented immigrants estimated to reside in the state, many of whom live in mixed-status families.
Texas Republicans such as Attorney General Ken Paxton and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller were also present to show their support. Paxton, who was impeached last year on allegations of corruption but later acquitted, received a warm welcome from the audience. Trump expressed his support, stating that unfair accusations only served to bolster Paxton’s popularity, calling the situation “bullshit.”
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