Trump asks why he has to pay a $175M bond while MS-13 ‘murderers’ walk free: Ex-president says migrants ‘aren’t human… they’re animals’ and claims ‘Biden’s Border Bloodbath’ is causing ‘rape, plunder and slaughter’
Donald Trump launched into “Biden’s Border Bloodbath” in a fiery speech on Tuesday, claiming that migrants are “animals” and “not people.”
The former president, 77, complained he had to pay $175 million to secure bail in his New York fraud case, while members of MS-13 were released from jail during the sometimes extended remarks in Grand Rapids , Michigan.
The Republican vowed to close the border on the first day of his administration if elected, saying he would end the “rape, pillage and slaughter” in cities across America.
He also brought up the case of Ruby Garcia, a 25-year-old Michigan woman who was allegedly shot and killed by an illegal immigrant who had previously been deported from the US.
“I’m the only one who has to post bail…I had to post $175 million bail this morning,” Trump said at the event, referring to his fraud case in New York.
The ex-president claimed he did “nothing wrong” while others “went scot-free.”
“They can shoot someone, kill someone and walk out of jail an hour later,” Trump said. ‘How about that. Do you think that is a fair policy?’
Former President Trump speaks at an event at the border in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Trump will appear with members of law enforcement agencies and Republican politicians in Grand Rapids, MI, on April 2
Migrants breaking barriers in El Paso, Texas on March 21, 2024
During his event, Trump vowed to close the border and begin mass deportations if re-elected to the White House
Trump began the event by playing clips of news reports about recent crimes allegedly committed in the country illegally by immigrants, including snippets of reports about Garcia being shot and dumped on the side of a highway in Grand Rapids last month.
25-year-old Brandon Ortiz-Vite is charged with murder after turning himself in. Police said the victim and suspect were dating.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Ortiz-Vite was in the country illegally. He had been arrested and deported in 2020, but re-entered the United States at some point.
“We threw him out of the country, but corrupt Biden took him back,” Trump said. He said the suspect had many arrests but was “released to roam Michigan.”
“Under corrupt Joe Biden, every state is now a border state, every city is now a border town,” Trump declared.
Trump said he had spoken to “some of” Garcia’s family but did not go into details. The former president also confused Garcia’s age, saying she was 17 years old. Garcia was 25.
Trump promised that if re-elected, he would close the border and begin mass deportations of immigrants into the country.
“We will stop the looting, rape, slaughter and destruction of our American suburbs, cities and towns,” Trump said. “We will immediately put an end to deadly sanctuary cities, and I will transition a significant portion of federal law enforcement to immigration enforcement.”
The body of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia was found with gunshot wounds on the side of US-131 in Grand Rapids in March
Brandon Ortiz-Vite is charged with the murder of Ruby Garcia. Immigration officials said he was in the country illegally
Trump speaks at a table full of images of victims killed in the country illegally by immigrants. The images were printed and distributed for the event in Grand Rapids, MI
Before his remarks, Trump sat down with a group of current and former law enforcement officials and lawmakers, including Republican Congressman John James and Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers of Michigan, who joined him on stage.
Outside the event, a number of Trump supporters gathered at the DeVos Place Convention Center in downtown Grand Rapids, waving flags and signs to greet the former president.
Down the street, Democrats supporting President Biden carried their own signs highlighting the failed bipartisan immigration deal that Trump urged Republican members to pass, as well as the criminal cases against Trump.
Trump supporters wave flags and signs as they await Trump’s arrival in Grand Rapids, MI
Anti-Trump protesters across from DeVos Place await Trump’s arrival. Some carried signs promoting the bipartisan immigration deal that Trump helped stop in Congress. Others showed their support for President Biden
During the event, the Trump campaign distributed a handout with a list of crimes committed by immigrants in Michigan, as well as images of victims allegedly murdered by undocumented immigrants across the country, including images of Garcia of Grand Rapids and Laken Riley. the 22-year-old who was murdered in Georgia earlier this year.
Riley’s family and friends met Trump at his rally in Georgia last month. President Biden also addressed her by name during his State of the Union address.
The Republican National Committee also launched a stories website on Tuesday. It warned that a vote for Biden is a “vote for an invasion.”
Trump supporters hold signs with an image of 22-year-old Laken Riley during the ex-president’s rally in Rome, Georgia on March 8. Riley became the face of immigration reform after she was illegally killed by a suspected immigrant in the US in February
Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was charged with the murder of Laken Riley, takes a booking photo via the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office
Biden holds a button in memory of Laken Riley during his State of the Union address in March
Democrats in Michigan criticized the former president ahead of his visit.
“The truth is that Donald Trump is coming here to politicize a tragic loss and lie to Michiganders about his record,” said Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “When President Biden negotiated a tough, fair, and bipartisan border security deal, it was Trump who pressured his MAGA goons to kill the bill, allowing the chaos to continue.”
After the comments in Michigan, Trump largely ignored questions hurled at him about whether he supports a six-week abortion ban set to take effect in his home state of Florida, saying he would make a statement on abortion “next week” . He did not answer a loud question about his support for Israel’s war in Gaza, as attendees booed those asking the questions and shouted “four more years!” chanted.
From Michigan, the former president heads to Green Bay, Wisconsin for his first rally in the state since 2022.
Voters there will go to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in Wisconsin’s presidential election, despite Trump and Biden having already amassed the necessary number of delegates to be their parties’ respected presidential candidates.
Michigan held its presidential primaries on February 27. Trump received more than 68 percent of the votes in the Republican primaries, and President Biden received more than 81 percent of the votes in the Democratic primaries.
The two are set for an exciting rematch in Michigan in November. The latest state poll from Bloomberg/Morning Consult has the pair tied at 45 percent.
Biden won the state in 2020 by just over 150,000 voters — or just over 50 percent of the vote.