Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump warned Wednesday that Hillary Clinton’s “radical immigration platform” would hurt the same minority communities that she claims to be fighting for on the campaign trail, as the New York billionaire moved to turn the 2016 election into a referendum on the Democratic standard-bearer.
Casting himself as a warrior for American workers, Mr. Trump warned that black and Hispanics would be the latest victims of Mrs. Clinton’s agenda, saying the former secretary of state has a history of selling out American workers to enrich her family and pursuing policies that have left the nation more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
“Hillary’s Wall Street immigration agenda will keep immigrant communities poor, and unemployed Americans out of work,” Mr. Trump said. “She can’t claim to care about African-American and Hispanic workers when she wants to bring in millions of new low-wage workers to compete against them.”
Mr. Trump has been on the defensive in recent weeks after questioning whether an Indiana-born judge overseeing a case involving Trump University was biased against him because of the judge’s Mexican heritage. He also faced criticism after renewing his calls for a temporary ban on Muslims following the mass shooting in Orlando.
There also were more alarming signs this week after Mr. Trump fired his campaign manager Corey Lewandowksi on Monday, and campaign finance reports that showed he had $1.3 million in the bank at the end of May.
Looking to regain momentum in the race, Mr. Trump went on the offensive, saying Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have supported disastrous trade deals and used their time in public for personal gain.
“Hillary Clinton may be the most corrupt person ever to seek the presidency,” Mr. Trump said, reading from teleprompters.
On immigration, Mr. Trump said Mrs. Clinton’s plan would grant “mass amnesty” to illegal immigrants and increase refugee resettlement, driving down wages for ordinary Americans and legal immigrants.
“Hillary Clinton has put forward the most radical immigration platform in the history of the United States,” Mr. Trump said. “She has pledged to grant mass amnesty and in her first 100 days.
“The first victims of her radical policies will be poor African-American and Hispanic workers who need jobs,” he said. “They are the ones she will hurt the most.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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