Former President Donald Trump proclaimed Sunday at a rally in Kinston, North Carolina, that the U.S. is occupied by illegal immigrants who want to do harm to Americans.
Mr. Trump, referencing the illegal immigrant gangs from Venezuela among other countries, described to his supporters the cities and towns across the country that have been overrun by the illegals and have seen their crime rates skyrocket.
“If I win, the American people will be the rulers of this country. Again, the United States is now an occupied country. Can you imagine? I say that, and nobody disputes it,” Mr. Trump said.
“If you take a look at what’s happening in Colorado - Aurora, take a look at that. They’re taking over complexes of apartments and big swaths of area, but all over the country, it’s happening.”
Mr. Trump said that many cities and towns across the country don’t like to say that this is happening in their municipalities because it is “bad publicity” and people will not move into that town or city.
“It’s New York and Chicago and Los Angeles, but it will soon be an occupied country no longer. It’s not going to take long. You know, these guys come in. They’re vicious, violent and like military age,” Mr. Trump said. “But they have military-quality equipment, military-quality guns.”
Mr. Trump pledged that if he wins, Nov. 5, 2024, will become known as Liberation Day in America.
“On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history, I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered,” he said. “These towns are being invaded and conquered. And we will put the vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail or kick them the hell out of our country as fast as we can.”
The National Border Patrol Council has endorsed Mr. Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mr. Trump told NBPC President Paul Perez at an Arizona rally in October that he wants to hire 10,000 more Border Patrol agents. He called for 5,000 agents as president, but Congress never funded them.
Mr. Trump has also promised to finish his half-built border wall, revive his “Remain in Mexico” policy, and strike new asylum agreements with Central American nations.
He said he would end the rampant use of “parole,” the legal authority the Biden-Harris administration has used to welcome millions of migrants who are, under the law, inadmissible aliens.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.