Trump on Harris and immigration/ Trump response to Kamala Harris immigration policy/ Trump speaks on immigration in Wisconsin/ Newslooks/ MADISON/ WISCONSIN/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former President Donald Trump will respond to Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent remarks on immigration during a campaign event in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Trump is expected to link Harris to illegal immigration issues, highlighting a local case involving a Venezuelan national accused of violent crimes. Immigration remains a central focus in Trump’s campaign, as he seeks to rally support in key swing states.
Trump to Address Harris on Immigration in Wisconsin: Quick Looks
- Event Location: Trump is holding a campaign rally in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, a small town across from Iowa.
- Immigration Focus: Trump is expected to tie Vice President Kamala Harris to the issue of illegal immigration.
- Local Crime Case: He will highlight the case of a Venezuelan national accused of violent crimes, including sexual assault.
- Swing State Strategy: Trump aims to use frustration over illegal immigration to boost support in key states like Wisconsin.
Trump Set to Respond to Harris on Immigration in Wisconsin Rally
Deep Look:
Former President Donald Trump is gearing up for a high-profile campaign event on Saturday in Prairie du Chien, a small river town in western Wisconsin, where he is expected to respond to Vice President Kamala Harris‘ recent remarks on immigration. Harris discussed the ongoing situation at the U.S.-Mexico border earlier in the week, and Trump, a vocal critic of the current administration’s border policies, will use his appearance to highlight what he views as their failures.
The event comes at a time when Trump is focusing heavily on immigration as a key issue in his 2024 presidential bid. During his speech, Trump is expected to reference a local case involving a Venezuelan national, Alejandro Jose Coronel Zarate, who has been charged with sexual assault, child abuse, and other crimes. Republicans, including Trump, have used the case to underscore their argument that illegal immigration isn’t just a border issue, but one affecting communities nationwide.
Linking Harris to Border Failures
Trump has repeatedly attacked Vice President Kamala Harris for what he describes as her failure to manage the surge of migrants crossing the southern border. Harris was tasked with overseeing border issues early in the Biden administration, and Trump has consistently pointed to this as a source of criticism. He is expected to continue this narrative in Wisconsin, tying the current administration’s policies to crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally, such as the case involving Coronel Zarate.
Coronel Zarate, a Venezuelan national, is accused of a series of violent crimes in Wisconsin. Local police have stated that he was carrying fake immigration documents at the time of his arrest and is affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, which originated in Venezuela’s prisons. He was also involved in a previous case in Madison, Wisconsin, where he faced charges of strangulation, false imprisonment, and battery. After fleeing the state, he was arrested in Minneapolis but later released, raising questions about the enforcement of immigration laws in sanctuary cities.
Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Derrick Van Orden, who represents the district that includes Prairie du Chien, have criticized authorities for releasing Coronel Zarate and allowing him to commit further crimes. They argue that sanctuary policies in cities like Minneapolis and Madison make it easier for people in the country illegally to evade justice.
Trump’s Campaign Strategy
Wisconsin is a crucial battleground state in the 2024 election, and Trump is hoping to galvanize voters by focusing on immigration, an issue that resonates with his base. In his speech, Trump is expected to echo past comments about illegal immigration “poisoning the blood of the country” and to promise sweeping reforms if elected. One of his key pledges is to launch the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, aimed at removing millions of people in the country illegally.
The local case involving Coronel Zarate provides Trump with a timely and specific example of the dangers he associates with illegal immigration, a topic he has used to rally his supporters since his first presidential run in 2016. By focusing on a violent crime case in a small Wisconsin town, Trump aims to make the issue feel more immediate and personal for voters outside of the border states traditionally associated with immigration debates.
Friction Between Harris and Trump
The backdrop for Trump’s rally is a broader war of words between him and the Biden-Harris administration on immigration. While Trump has called for stricter border policies and mass deportations, Democrats have accused him of obstructing bipartisan immigration reforms that would have increased border security and allocated more resources for handling asylum claims.
Vice President Harris, in particular, has faced criticism from Trump for her handling of border issues, though crossings have reportedly fallen since President Joe Biden issued an executive order limiting asylum claims. However, Trump’s team argues that the administration’s policies still leave the U.S. vulnerable to crime and drug smuggling, a message he’s likely to hammer home in his Wisconsin speech.
As Trump continues his push for the Republican nomination, his focus on immigration underscores his strategy to appeal to voters who feel the Biden administration has failed to address border security adequately. By using specific examples of crime linked to undocumented immigrants, Trump aims to draw a sharp contrast between his policies and those of Harris and Biden.
