Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, made controversial comments during a radio interview where he suggested that migrants who have committed murder in the U.S. did so because “it’s in their genes.” He also claimed that there are “a lot of bad genes in our country right now.” This is not the first time Trump has made inflammatory remarks about immigrants, previously evoking language used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.” Trump’s campaign clarified that his comments were specifically about murderers, not all migrants.
Trump’s comments were made in a radio interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt while criticizing his Democratic opponent for the 2024 presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris. He cited statistics from the Department of Homeland Security, indicating that 13,000 murderers and 425,000 convicted criminals have entered the U.S. Trump questioned why these individuals are allowed to live in the country and suggested that criminal behavior is genetic. The Harris campaign declined to comment on Trump’s remarks, while White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the language as “hateful” and “disgusting.”
The statistics provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales reveal a significant number of individuals found guilty of homicide and convicted criminals under ICE’s supervision, including those not in custody. However, these numbers span decades and include data from various administrations, including Trump’s. The Biden administration has implemented stricter asylum restrictions for migrants, and Harris has taken a tougher stance on immigration in response to criticism. Trump, on the other hand, has made illegal immigration a central issue in his 2024 campaign, promising a large-scale deportation operation if elected.
Trump has a history of making derogatory remarks about immigrants, including referring to them as “animals” and “killers,” and falsely claiming that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating pets. As president, he questioned why the U.S. accepted immigrants from certain countries over others and told congresswomen of color to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came.” These comments have drawn criticism for being discriminatory and inappropriate. The Biden administration has sought to distance itself from Trump’s rhetoric on immigration and asylum policies.
In response to the backlash over his comments, the Trump campaign defended the remarks, stating that the media was quick to defend criminals and illegal immigrants rather than focusing on Trump’s criticism of murderers. The ongoing debate over immigration policy, asylum restrictions, and enforcement measures continues to be a contentious issue in U.S. politics. Trump’s divisive rhetoric on immigration has sparked outrage and condemnation from critics, while his supporters argue that he is taking a strong stance on national security and border control. The upcoming presidential race is likely to see immigration emerge as a key issue for both parties.
