Donald Trump's inflammatory remarks about immigrants have served to help his ratings in the 2016 presidential election, while generally hurting his relationship with Latinos and business partners. Still, that has not stopped the billionaire real estate mogul from proclaiming that "Latinos love Trump."

Ironically, his controversial stance on immigration reform has also helped him garner support among a small segment of U.S. Latinos living near the U.S-Mexican border, according to a recent AP report.

Trump has been under fire since he called Mexican immigrants drug traffickers and rapists during his presidential election announcement speech on June 16. Following his attack on Mexicans, Univision and NBCUniversal canceled their contracts to air the Miss Universe Pageant, which Trump co-owns. In addition, Macy's, ESPN and Ora TV, a television company controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, also cut ties with Trump.

In the meantime, the comments have helped the reality TV star gain traction among anti-immigration conservatives and grassroots Republicans. The hardline rhetoric has also driven a sharp divide in the Latino community of Laredo, Texas.

On Thursday, the real estate tycoon was greeted by a group of Hispanic supporters from the small city when he stopped by to take a brief tour of the U.S.-Mexico border. One resident said she agrees with Trump's plan to control the influx of immigrants illegally crossing the southern border.

"I think he's right," said Jessica Gonzalez, 79, a Democrat who was born and raised in Laredo, to the Associated Press. "All we have is people from foreign countries. ... It's not like it used to be."

Gonzalez added that she and her husband no longer travel across the border to shop or for entertainment due to the violence from the drug cartels. "I want to go down and say: Donald Trump, you're on fire in Laredo! Because everybody feels what you think!" she said.

A 43-year-old woman named Patti Magnon said she brought her 6-year-old daughter to see Trump's custom plane land and then depart from Lardeo.

"He's not wrong entirely. I'm from Laredo and I see the problems that we get," she said, adding that many Mexican workers are opting to stay in the States rather than returning to their hometowns.

Enrique Harrington Ramon, 75, said that Spanish-speaking immigrants "take advantage of us" in Laredo. Ramon also said people respond positively to Trump's rhetoric "because it's the truth."

"I am sick of walking into a store and hearing 'en que le puede ayudar?' What country are we in?" Ramon added.

However, others city residents blasted "The Apprentice" star.

"I wish he wouldn't come down here," said Raul Gonzalez, 65, who was born and raised in Laredo. "He's very disrespectful to Latinos."

Laredo-born Tony Flores, 82, called Trump "poisonous" and said "he is hatred."

While Hispanic voters along the U.S.-Texas border have a unique and diverse perspective of Trump, the vast majority of Latinos support candidates that offer more forgiving immigration policies, such as those allowing a pathway to citizenship or permanent residency for undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

A new Univision News Poll also found that 79 percent of Latino voters were offended by Trump's disparaging comments about Mexican immigrants during his campaign announcement. The poll also showed that only 7 percent would vote for him if the Republican primary were held today.