GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Former President Donald Trump spent the afternoon in Michigan on Tuesday while traveling to Grand Rapids to speak to Kent County area Republican Party members about immigration and border security.
“There’s never been a border like this anywhere in the world,” Trump told the crowd.
The former President delivered his speech before a group of sheriff deputies and police from agencies across Michigan. Some law enforcement officers joined Trump in blasting President Joe Biden’s administration’s border policies, calling them loose.
“We have a crisis on our hands, and we need help,” said Sheriff Frank Baker of Allegan County.
Some speakers joined Trump in connecting border concerns to local crime trends.
“We need leadership at the national level that is willing to solve this crisis,” said Sheriff Daniel Abbott of Van Buren County.
During Trump’s speech, he referenced the recent murder of Ruby Garcia. The young woman was killed in Kent County last month.
He referenced the young woman’s murder, allegedly at the hands of her boyfriend, as a border security issue.
“We’re going to order justice for Ruby,” Trump said. “We’re going to watch what happens with this.”
Garcia was allegedly killed by her boyfriend during an argument. His status under DACA had expired five years ago.
Congress members Haley Stevens, Debbie Stabenow, and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks were among the critics who condemned Trump’s remarks.
Stevens said, “Donald Trump is coming to Grand Rapids to do what he does best: divide, distract, and fearmonger instead of doing something to address real issues that matter to our country.”
Some critics referred to the former President’s remarks centered around Garcia’s death as shameful.
They said Democrats and Republicans worked hard on a bi-partisan bill to address issues at the border. They say it was Trump who convinced members of his party to switch their votes, ultimately killing that bill.
“The truth is Donald Trump isn’t interested in border security or making our immigration system work,” said Stabenow. “He is only interested in scapegoating people for his own benefit and creating chaos.”
Trump said he brought up the Garcia case because her accused killer was deported by his administration but later returned to the U.S. without having the proper documents.
During his campaign stop in Grand Rapids, Trump received an endorsement from the Police Officer Association of Michigan.
He announced that if elected, one of his priorities would be giving police officers immunity.
“The truth is, Donald Trump is coming here to politicize a tragic loss and lie to Michiganders’ faces about his record. When President Biden negotiated a tough, fair, and bipartisan border security deal, it was Trump who pressured his MAGA cronies to kill the bill, allowing the chaos to continue.
“No matter what he says today, Donald Trump has no interest in being part of the solution because he doesn’t care about border security. He only cares about himself and whatever he thinks makes him look good, but Michiganders know the truth: Donald Trump has nothing to offer but dangerous rhetoric that promotes hate, division, and violence without making anyone safer.”
Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes