Donald Trump delivered one of his harshest speeches against illegal immigrants and their crimes on Saturday, particularly those targeting young women, while also ramping up personal attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris. Speaking in Wisconsin, Trump referred to Harris—who had just visited the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time during her 2024 presidential campaign—as “mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled.”
Flanked by posters showcasing immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have been arrested for serious crimes, Trump declared, “End Migrant Crime” and “Deport Illegals Now.” His speech focused almost entirely on undocumented immigrants, labeling those who commit violent acts as “monsters,” “stone-cold killers,” and “vile animals.”
With the November 5 election approaching, Trump is in a tight race with Harris, as immigration and border security are key issues for voters, according to polls. Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for Harris, responded to Trump’s rhetoric, saying, “He’s got nothing ‘inspiring’ to offer the American people, just darkness.”
Trump accused Harris and President Joe Biden of allowing undocumented immigrants into the country and claimed that some migrants aimed to “rape, pillage, thieve, plunder and kill the people of the United States of America.” At one point, he acknowledged, “This is a dark speech.”
His remarks took place in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where a Venezuelan man illegally in the U.S. was recently detained for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and attacking her daughter. Since Biden took office, approximately 7 million migrants have been apprehended while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, a record high that has drawn criticism towards Harris and Biden from Trump and other Republicans.
During her border visit, Harris laid out her plans to address “our broken immigration system,” accusing Trump of “fanning the flames of fear and division” regarding the effects of immigration on American society. She called for stricter asylum regulations and promised to prioritize stopping fentanyl from entering the U.S.
Trump reiterated his false claims about a fraudulent 2020 election, saying if re-elected, and “if allowed,” he would prosecute those he holds responsible for his loss. Studies generally find no evidence that immigrants commit crimes at a higher rate than native-born Americans, and critics argue that Trump’s rhetoric perpetuates racist stereotypes.
Typically, Trump highlights cases of young women allegedly killed by Hispanic assailants while avoiding cases with male victims. His opponents accuse him of exploiting the grief of families to reinforce his narrative that foreign-born individuals constitute an invading force. However, some families of victims have welcomed Trump’s focus on violent crime and the toll of fentanyl, much of which enters the U.S. through the southern border. Several parents who lost children to attacks by illegal immigrants or to fentanyl overdoses voiced their support for Trump before his speech on Saturday.
