UPDATED Donald Trump Immigration Speech: Full Text Transcript, Video of Policy Stances from Phoenix
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addressed a huge crowd in Phoenix, Arizona this evening. This speech came after his controversial meeting with the President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto.
Trump's much-awaited speech on immigration was delivered at the Phoenix Convention at 6 p.m. Mountain Time. It highlighted Trump's special points on immigration and what a supposed Trump government can do to control illegal immigrants, especially those coming from the U.S.-Mexican border.
Trump's position on immigration
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Throughout the presidential primaries, Trump has specifically pointed out that illegal immigrants must be stopped from crossing the borders. He has once called the deportation of around 11 million undocumented illegal immigrants in the country. He even said that he would prioritize the building of a big wall, which will stop immigrants from crossing. He also said that he would make Mexico pay for this wall.
But recently, Trump seemed to have somehow changed his view on immigration. According to him, he was not referring to all immigrants, but only to criminal aliens. The Republican candidate is now eyeing better relations with Mexico by clarifying his stance on immigration to possibly win more votes for his campaign.
Kellyanne Conway, Trump's new campaign manager, also said that Trump is eyeing a deportation force that will work in deporting illegal immigrants if he gets elected. Conway, however, said that it is still unclear how he would do this.
Softening on immigration, or not
Trump is still uncertain if he is softening on immigration or not, but it seems that he is trying to make things better by visiting Mexican President Peña Nieto.
Who pays for the wall?
After meeting with the Mexican President, a reporter asked Trump if they discussed about who pays for the wall he plans to build along the border of Mexico and the U.S. While they did not talk about who will pay for the wall, Trump affirmed that they touched on the issue. He added that the payment will be discussed at a later date.
Peña Nieto, however, sad that they indeed talked about it, but he had made it clear to the New York real estate mogul that it would not be Mexico.
Highlights and full transcript of Donald Trump's speech
Republican presidential bet Donald Trump gave his speech in Phoenix, Arizona highlighting his controversial stances on immigration. Trump came fresh from his meeting with Mexican President Peña Nieto, a meeting that he described as a "thoughtful conversation" and a win for both countries.
He opened his speech saying that the current administration has the worst immigration so far. He blamed Obama and Clinton's open immigration program for a number of crimes involving illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Trump underscored his stance on illegal immigration and said that Mexico will pay for a wall that he is planning to build. His speech in Phoenix clarified what he plans to do with the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. He vowed to deport all criminal illegal immigrants within an hour of being in office.
In his speech, Trump also explained what he meant by creating a deportation force, and not just hinted on the issue.
Here is the full text of Donald Trump's immigration speech in Phoenix, Arizona:
