Former president Donald Trump On Sunday, he said if elected he would ask Congress to pass legislation increasing the number of border patrol agents — months away he cwarted a bipartisan measure involving increased staffing.
The proposal includes hiring 10,000 new agents and a 10% raise for existing agents, as well as $10,000 in retention and signing bonuses, Trump’s top adviser said.
At a campaign rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona, Trump said: “I will immediately ask Congress to approve a 10% increase. “We have a huge shortage because they’re not being treated right.”
US Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday.
This year, Trump opposed the most aggressive border security bill in decades, a bipartisan measure aimed at reducing the number of border crossings and tightening asylum rules. The legislation, which comes after months of negotiations between Senate Democrats and Republicans and the Biden administration, would also fund the hiring of 1,500 additional Customs and Border Protection agents and 1,600 additional asylum officers.
Senate Republicans eventually voted block the account After Trump pressured congressional Republicans to block any less-than-“perfect” measure. It also allowed him to continue to make the border and immigration central to his bid to return to the White House.
Matt Corridoni, a spokesman for the Harris campaign, said in a statement Sunday that Trump is interested in “working on one, not solving problems.”
“That’s why he killed the bipartisan border bill that would have secured the border, even though it was approved by the Border Patrol,” Corridoni said. “There is only one candidate who is focused on solving problems for the American people, taking on transnational gangs and keeping our communities safe – Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said in a statement Sunday that, when asked why Trump proposed hiring more agents after derailing the bipartisan measure, he “opposed the bill because it is an amnesty law that would expedite the entry of thousands of illegal immigrants into the country illegally.” was,” he said. he goes to the country every week.”
That’s how Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to present herself, saying she would sign the bipartisan bill if it landed on her desk as president. tough on migrationin late September to support tougher restrictions on travel and asylum at the border.
Trump announced his plan to strengthen border security shortly after members of the National Border Protection Board, the Border Patrol agents and staff union, joined him on stage to express their support.
“On behalf of the 16,000 men and women represented by the National Border Patrol Council, we strongly endorse and support Donald J. Trump for President of the United States,” union president Paul Perez said at the rally.
The same union, under a different president, confirmed bipartisan bill Which Trump helped block. He also endorsed Trump’s candidacy in 2016 and 2020.
Trump has stepped up his anti-immigration rhetoric at recent rallies. Last week he he called for capital punishment For any migrant who kills US citizens and discloses his plan”Operation Aurora,” would invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport gang members.
one NBC News survey In a show of deadlock between Harris and Trump on Sunday, respondents ranked immigration and border security as the second most important issue they would vote for or against the candidate based on that alone.
Alex Tabet, Julia Ainsley, Peter Alexander, Von Hillyard and Dan Gallo contributed.