Former President Donald Trump took his anti-immigration rhetoric to a new level during an interview on Monday, suggesting that immigrants commit violent crimes because “it’s in their genes.” Speaking with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump claimed that the U.S. has allowed 13,000 murderers into the country, adding, “it’s in their genes” and that the country now has “a lot of bad genes.”
This comment marks an escalation in Trump’s long-standing attacks on immigrants, echoing previous inflammatory statements he has made. Last year, Trump claimed that immigrants were “poisoning the blood” of the nation, a remark that sparked widespread condemnation. In response to his latest comments, the White House swiftly denounced Trump’s language, calling it reminiscent of “fascist and violent white supremacist rhetoric.”
Trump’s Controversial Claims
During the interview, Trump focused on the 13,099 figure, which he has cited before. The number comes from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) letter that Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales released last month, detailing the number of non-citizens on ICE’s “non-detained docket” who had been convicted of homicide. However, the letter clarified that many of these individuals are likely in state or federal prisons, with their convictions spanning several decades.
Trump’s campaign, through spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, defended the comments, stating that the former president was referring specifically to murderers, not migrants as a whole. Leavitt criticized the media for what she characterized as a bias toward defending “murderers, rapists, and illegal criminals” to undermine Trump.
Immigration: A Key Issue in the 2024 Campaign
Immigration remains a hot-button issue for voters, and Trump’s hardline stance resonates with much of his base. On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly promised to enact mass deportations and undo programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which protects certain migrants from deportation. Most recently, Trump targeted Haitian migrants, suggesting without evidence that they were responsible for pet disappearances in Springfield, Ohio. The controversy drew national attention and led to bomb threats at local schools.
While Trump leads Harris on immigration in recent polls, the vice president has also acknowledged the need for stronger border security. In a recent campaign stop in Douglas, Arizona, Harris emphasized that maintaining a secure border is critical to addressing the challenges at hand.
The Broader Impact of Trump’s Rhetoric
Trump’s inflammatory statements about immigrants have long fueled concern among civil rights groups, immigrant advocates, and many lawmakers, who argue that his rhetoric incites division and hatred. Vice President Kamala Harris, a frequent target of Trump’s attacks, called on him to stop using such harmful language in an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists in September.
As Trump continues to use increasingly harsh rhetoric, the question remains whether his statements will help solidify his base or further alienate voters who may be concerned about his extreme views on immigration.
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