News / Politics

Trump promises immigration crackdown ahead of US elections

Friday, 02 November 2018 1:56 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 02 November 2018 2:00 AM ]

US President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in support of U S Senate candidate Josh Hawley on November 1, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (AFP photo)

Seeking to shore up support for Republicans ahead of the congressional elections next week, US President Donald Trump says his administration has planned to require immigrants seeking asylum in his country to come into the US through a legal port of entry.

“Migrants seeking asylum will have to present themselves lawfully at a port of entry,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

He called a caravan of Central America migrants travelling toward the United States as a dangerous threat to the country.

“Those who choose to break our laws and enter illegally will no longer be able to use meritless claims to gain automatic admission into our country,” he said.

Trump’s remarks, five days before US voters deice which party will control Congress and state governorships across the country, look part of an effort to create fear and invigorate his political base.

Trump has ratcheted up anti-migrant rhetoric ahead of the crucial midterm congressional elections, calling the caravan of Central American migrants an "invasion."

A new group of migrants has left El Salvador to join other United States-bound caravans of Central Americans mostly fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries.

Democrats and rights activists have said Trump is drawing on xenophobic and racist images in an effort to stoke anti-immigrant concerns among voters ahead of Election Day.

The Pentagon announced on Monday it was deploying 5,200 active-duty troops to beef up security the country’s border with Mexico.

“They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back. We’re going to consider, and I told them to consider it a rifle. When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexico military police, I say: Consider it a rifle,” Trump said.

The Trump administration has been under criticism over its “zero tolerance” immigration policy.

Nationwide protests have been held to denounce Trump’s crackdown against immigrants.

Critics accused Trump of stoking fear ahead of the elections, in which Republicans are battling to keep their congressional majorities.

“President Trump’s attempt to paint peaceful families seeking asylum as a national security threat is as absurd as it is cruel,” said advocacy group Human Rights First in a statement. “The president is fear mongering to score political points ahead of a contentious election at the expense of people’s lives.”

The American Civil Liberties Union said in statement, “If he plans at some point to prohibit people from applying for asylum between the ports of entry, that plan is illegal.”

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