Donald Trump has lashed out at undocumented immigrants as “animals” during a White House meeting.
Trump spoke in front of news cameras on Wednesday, during a round-table discussion with state and local leaders on California’s sanctuary laws, which limit communication between local law enforcement and federal immigration officers.
Trump denounced “the dumbest laws on immigration in the world”, told his administration to “do much better” keeping out undesirable people, and then railed:
We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in — we’re stopping a lot of them. You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people, these are animals, and we’re taking them out of the country at a level and at a rate that’s never happened before.
The invited officials took turns praising Trump’s immigration policies and criticizing California’s law, claims that it creates difficulties for communities to find and deport criminals.
Trump: Charge Oakland Mayor With Obstruction of Justice
Trump said the mayor of Oakland, California should be charged with obstruction of justice for warning her constituents in February of an impending large-scale immigration raid and arrests.
Implicitly referring to his own issues with the Trump-Russia investigation, “You talk about obstruction of justice. I would recommend that you look into obstruction of justice for the mayor of Oakland.”
Turning to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Trump said, “Perhaps the Department of Justice can look into that.”
California Governor Jerry Brown responded:
Trump is lying on immigration, lying about crime and lying about the laws of California. Flying in a dozen Republican politicians to flatter him and praise his reckless policies changes nothing. We, the citizens of the fifth-largest economy in the world, are not impressed.
“We Have to Break Up Families”
Trump used the meeting to push other hard-line positions on immigration, including the separation of children from their parents. Addressing Homeland Security Director Kirstjen Nielsen, he said:
I know what you’re going through right now with families is very tough, but those are the bad laws that the Democrats gave us. We have to break up families. The Democrats gave us that law.
The Justice Department directed earlier this month that border agents take all undocumented immigrants to court, raising the likelihood of family break-ups. Some children are reportedly being housed in military camps.
Officials said Nielsen was on the point of resignation last week, after she was berated by Trump in a Cabinet meeting for not being tough enough on undocumented immigrants and border security.
Trump also took aim at Mexico over the border on Wednesday, proclaiming, “Mexico talks, but they do nothing for us, especially at the border. Certainly don’t help us much on trade, but especially at the border, they do nothing for us.”
Trump’s grandparents came from Germany. His mother came from Scotland. They did so LEGALLY. Undocumented illegal immigrants may actually have less of a residency status than a dog or a cat, some of whom have passports and medical records.
he’s referring to MS13. The question was about MS13, not immigrants.
The question was about MS13. Trump chose to answer by referring to all undocumented immigrants:
“We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in — and we’re stopping a lot of them — but we’re taking people out of the country. You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people. These are animals. And we’re taking them out of the country at a level and at a rate that’s never happened before. And because of the weak laws, they come in fast, we get them, we release them, we get them again, we bring them out. It’s crazy.”