Philadelphia/Washington
US presidential candidate Donald Trump has accused his Democratic rival Kamala Harris of allowing millions of immigrants and criminals to enter the United States without control. In his first televised duel with Harris, Trump called President Joe Biden and the current US government under Harris his agents, saying, “You have destroyed the fabric of our country.” Trump said that while crime rates are falling worldwide, they are skyrocketing in the United States. “And we have a new form of crime called immigrant crime, and it is on a scale that no one thought possible.” The United States needs strong borders and a wall.
As vice president, Harris has been primarily responsible for immigration, an issue Trump has repeatedly attacked the 59-year-old on, accusing her of failing. Harris said Trump blocked legislation that would have strengthened the Border Patrol by adding more personnel to track down transnational criminal organizations that traffic weapons, drugs and people. The United States needs leaders who advocate for solutions and solve problems. But Trump prefers to stay in the problem rather than solve it, Harris said.
Immigration reform is a major issue in the campaign. The border situation remains tense and authorities are overwhelmed in many places. Biden recently tightened asylum rules for immigrants entering illegally from Mexico. The number of unauthorized border crossings, although at record levels, has decreased. Many people fleeing poverty, violence, and political crisis in their home countries choose to cross the southern border.
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