Former President Trump unveiled a new policy proposal, promising to eliminate sanctuary cities across the country.
“Today I am announcing a new plan to end all sanctuary cities in North Carolina and across our country,” Trump said at a rally Saturday in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The comments come as Trump continues to hammer Vice President Kamala Harris on border security, highlighting her role in appointing him as “border czar” before the administration oversaw record illegal crossings during President Biden’s first three years in office.
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Former President Trump leaves a campaign event at the Central Wisconsin Airport on September 7, 2024 in Mosinee, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
So-called “sanctuary cities,” or jurisdictions that have limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities, have become controversial in recent years, with critics saying their existence encourages illegal border crossings and hinders ICE’s ability to process migrants accused of committing crimes in the United States.
Trump vowed to tackle the issue at his rally Saturday, telling the crowd that he would “call on Congress to pass legislation banning sanctuary cities across the country, and we will bring the full weight of the federal government to bear on any jurisdiction that refuses to cooperate” with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Former President Trump raises his fist as he leaves a campaign event at Nassau Coliseum, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Uniondale, New York. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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The former president also reiterated his promises to deport all illegal immigrants living in the country, starting with those who pose a danger to public safety.
“As soon as I take office, I will deploy federal law enforcement to every city that fails to turn over criminal aliens — and many of them do — and we will hunt down and capture every gang member, drug dealer, rapist, murderer, and criminal immigrant who is being harbored illegally,” Trump said. “We will get them out of North Carolina and send them home, where they belong.”
Former President Trump speaks at a rally, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Uniondale, New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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North Carolina is one of seven swing states that are expected to play a major role in this year’s election. Trump, who narrowly won the state in 2016 and 2020, currently holds a lead of just 0.1 percentage points, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average, the narrowest margin of the seven swing states.
