GOP set to Make Donald Trump's Border Wall Pledge Part of Party Platform
Donald Trump's pledge to build a wall along the Mexican border has been formally embraced by the Republican Party in the form of being included as part of the party's platform.
During a recent subcommittee hearing, GOP leaders successfully campaigned to have the language, handed out to delegates slated to be on hand for this month's party convention in Cleveland, changed to read, "That is why we support building a wall along our southern border and protect if all ports of entry."
The declaration adds: "The border wall must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic."
Trump Hardline Immigration Stance
That's more in line with what Trump has pushed for since marking the launch of his campaign by deriding Mexicans as criminals and drug dealers. Since then, the party's presumptive nominee has also vowed to have Mexico foot the bill for the wall he plans to erect if he is elected.
The GOP backed provision outlined to delegates does not specify how the wall should be paid for. The party's full platform committee is scheduled to soon convene to debate the matter and others.
By contrast, democratic lawmakers recently moved to make immigration reform an official rung of the 2016 platform adopted by presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.
Immigration Reform High on Dems Agenda
Immigration reform activist were recently thrilled to learn an early draft of the party's platform has dems taking a liberal-minded stance on the issue, including calling for a path to citizenship.
"The platform recognizes the pressing need and the status of the more than 11 million undocumented migrants living and raising their families in the Unites States," said Maureen Meyer, director of the Washington Office on Latin America's Mexico Program. "It provides assurances that the raids that have been threatening recently arrived Central American families and which have caused fear in the immigrant community will be stopped."
Meanwhile, Trump has continued to struggle mightily with Hispanic voters. A recent Pew Research Center poll shows Clinton leading Trump by a nearly 3-1 margin among Latinos.
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