Businessman and 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is visiting the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday, said people will find out soon if he has evidence about his claim that the Mexican government is sending its criminals into the United States.
“You may have proof very soon. All you have to do is speak to some of the border people. Some of the border people told me. Well, we’re going to see a lot of border people [Thursday],” he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Mr. Trump said it is a “much more sophisticated version” of when Cuban dictator Fidel Castro emptied prisons and sent people to the United States.
“Mexico doesn’t want to house these people,” Mr. Trump said. “This animal that killed Kate [Steinle] — he came across five times. Now, maybe he came across because he thought the weather was nice, maybe he was pushed across by Mexico officials.”
Mr. Trump was referring to Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, who has been accused of shooting and killing Ms. Steinle in San Francisco and had been deported five times.
“Look, Mexico’s leaders are much smarter and sharper and more cunning than our leaders,” he said. “They’re doing things that we don’t even know about — let’s see what happens. I’m going to speak to a lot of people. … There are a lot of people very excited that I’m going to the border. .. I may never see you again, but these are minor details.”
“Mexico doesn’t want to house somebody for 30 years in a prison when the United States will do it,” he said. “I think the smart people know, I think the streetwise people know, and I think border guards know. … You’re going to find out if I have evidence. I’m not telling you now, but you’re going to find out what I have.”
Rep. Henry Cuellar, Texas Democrat, said Thursday on CNN’s “New Day” that FBI statistics show the crime rate across the border is lower than the actual crime rate. And he said when Mr. Trump visits his hometown of Laredo, he’s going to see it’s a safe city and said that the murder rate there is lower there than it is in New York City or Washington, D.C.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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