PRESCOTT VALLEY, Arizona — Former President Donald Trump on Sunday blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for the border crisis and migrant crime in America and said her record on immigration disqualifies her from being president.
“Anyone who would import criminal gangs to occupy America cannot ask to be president,” Trump said at a rally at the Findlay Toyota Center in Arizona. “Anyone who orchestrated an invasion of America cannot lead America. Kamala Harris’s reign of terror ends the day I take the oath of office.”
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In the state that shares a 370-mile border with Mexico, the Trump campaign and Arizona Republicans are counting on concerns about illegal border crossings and immigration to drive turnout. Referring to Harris as the “border czar” for her role under President Joe Biden to address the root causes of migration, Trump painted a dire picture of an illegal immigration “occupation” in the United States.
“I think the No. 1 issue is the destruction of our country, what’s happened at the border,” Trump said.
As a result, the rally was heavy on immigration which remains a top concern for voters and one that polls show Trump has an edge over Harris. Trump brought up members of the National Border Patrol Council who endorsed Trump and the former president said he’d back legislation to give them a 10% pay raise.
Harris has campaigned on the bipartisan border legislation that failed the Senate and blamed Trump for tanking the legislation to avoid a solution before Election Day. The Border Patrol union backed that deal despite Trump’s opposition, saying it would be an improvement of the status quo.
Since Biden implemented an asylum executive order this summer, border crossings have fallen to the lowest levels of his presidency.
The rally featured news footage of citizens frightened by Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua occupying an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, though officials there have pushed back on Trump’s characterization that gangs have taken over the city.
Earlier this week, Trump announced “Operation Aurora” to deport immigrant gang members, using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Trump reiterated his call for the death penalty for any illegal immigrant who kills an American citizen or law enforcement officer. He also praised former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an originator of tough-on-immigrant policies.
“I will rescue Arizona and every town across America that has been invaded and conquered,” Trump said.
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Trump’s Sunday rally caps off a lively campaign week in the Grand Canyon State, which saw visits from Harris in Chandler on Thursday, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Tim Walz both campaigning on Wednesday, second gentleman Doug Emhoff on Tuesday, and first lady Jill Biden in Phoenix on Saturday.
Arizona is one of the most competitive battleground states in the country. The RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Trump leading Harris by 1 percentage point in Arizona, 48.4% to 47.4%.