Trump : associates a decrease in crime with immigration enforcement
Trump: After thousands of criminals were deported or imprisoned, President Donald Trump claimed that Washington had seen months without a murder, attributing the dramatic drop in violent crime to strict immigration enforcement.
Speaking at the House GOP member conference here, Trump claimed that focusing on gang members and repeat criminals had improved public safety. He said that Washington, DC, is now the nation’s safest city.
Trump said there has been a significant transformation in the city. In reference to killings, he said, “We haven’t had one in seven months.”
He said that around 2,000 people had been taken by federal officials. Trump said, “We took out over 2,000 people,” noting that some were imprisoned and others were deported.
Trump referred to Tren de Aragua, a gang from Venezuela, as “the worst gang in the world.” He criticized Democratic leaders for inaction and called gang members “animals.”
He related a story of a Colorado landlord who said gang members had taken over an apartment complex. “His fingers were severed,” Trump said.
Trump said that when local governments refused to step in, federal agencies did. He said, “The governor doesn’t want to do anything, so ICE has to go in and take them out.”
Additionally, he supported the military’ obvious presence in Washington. Trump said that the deployment of security officers makes people feel safer, saying, “I don’t think you would either.”
Trump said local companies have benefited from the upgrade. He said that “restaurants are booming,” noting that in the past, businesses had suffered due to worries about crime.
He made a comparison between former times and the present. Trump said that, on average, two killings will occur in Washington each week.
Trump claimed that overall security had improved while acknowledging a recent terrorist incident that left two people wounded. He said, “It could have been anywhere.”
Trump’s administration has linked border control and interior enforcement to a decrease in crime, making immigration enforcement a defining issue of his presidency.
Critics have cautioned against confusing immigration with criminal activity and questioned the veracity of crime data. Trump disagreed with such characterization, claiming that most violent crimes are committed by a tiny number of criminals.
He said that 90 percent of crimes are committed by two to three percent of the population.
As Republicans get ready for the midterm elections, immigration and public safety continue to be politically significant concerns, especially in cities with sizable immigrant populations and growing public anxiety about crime.