Trump Sparks Outrage with Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric, Claims “Bad Genes” of Murderers in US
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has ignited fresh controversy with inflammatory rhetoric targeting immigrants, claiming thousands of convicted murderers with “bad genes” are residing in the US, Al Jazeera reports.
During a radio interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt on Monday, Trump launched a tirade against the immigration policies of his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. He asserted that 13,000 “murderers” had crossed the US border and were “happily living” in the country.
“You know now, a murderer – I believe this – it’s in their genes. We’ve got a lot of bad genes in our country right now,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks have been met with swift condemnation. The White House denounced the statement, while critics across the political spectrum pointed to Trump’s history of scapegoating migrants and exploiting racial prejudices.
ICE data from September revealed 13,099 people with homicide convictions on their “non-detained docket.” However, many of them are incarcerated in state or federal prisons, not free. Others entered the US years or decades ago.
Trump, who is locked in a tight race with Harris in key swing states ahead of the November election, has repeatedly focused on immigration as a campaign issue. He has vilified both undocumented migrants and those who have come to the US legally.
At a rally last month, Trump called for Harris’ prosecution over the White House’s border policies and referred to undocumented immigrants as “animals” intent on “rape, pillage, thieve, plunder and kill.” He also threatened to deport legal residents from Haiti, repeating unsubstantiated claims about their behavior.
Immigration remains a highly contentious issue in the US, with illegal border crossings reaching record highs at the end of 2023.
