Donald Trump Finds Support From Families Who Lost Loved Ones Killed by Undocumented Immigrants
Families whose loved ones were killed by undocumented immigrants stood behind 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump as he doubled down on his anti-immigration remarks on Friday.
The billionaire real estate mogul has been under fire since he called Mexican immigrants drug traffickers and rapists during his presidential election announcement speech on June 16.
"They (Mexico) are not our friend, believe me. ... The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems," said Trump last month.
"When Mexico sends its people, they are not sending their best. They are not sending you. They are sending people that have lots of problems, and they are bringing those problems to us. They are bringing drugs and they are bringing crime, and they're rapists."
Following his inflammatory remarks, Univision and NBCUniversal canceled their contracts to air the Miss Universe Pageant, which he co-owns. In addition, Macy's, ESPN and Ora TV, a television company controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, also cut their ties with Trump. However, that has not stopped the reality TV star from defending his comments.
On Friday, Trump met in California with families of those killed by undocumented immigrants. He then told reporters that his initial comments about Mexicans were taken out of context and reiterated that Mexico is sending people to the U.S. that "Mexico doesn't want," reports NBC News.
"People came into the country illegally and killed their children," Trump said at a press conference at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, according to Reuters. "It's a very sad thing that's happened to our country ... And nobody wants to talk about it."
The family members of victims who were killed by undocumented residents also voiced their support behind Trump, his candidacy and his stance on illegal immigration.
"No one really listened to us, our story really wasn't heard," said Sabine Durden, whose son was killed by a driver who was an undocumented immigrant three years ago. "When I heard Mr. Trump, I started screaming," she said. "Finally, someone who had the guts to say what millions are thinking."
The five people who said their loved ones were killed by undocumented immigrants also held up pictures of their deceased loved ones at the event and blamed the U.S. immigration system for allowing assailants to enter the country illegally.
"All I was hearing was 'Well, these people work, they contribute, they have to take their kids to school,'" said Don Rosenberg, whose son was fatally hit by an undocumented immigrant driver. "Like that was a reason that it was okay that they killed people."
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