Cmdr.-in-grief on immigration
On the eve of a key House vote on immigration enforcement legislation, President Trump Wednesday invited grieving families to the White House and pledged an immigration crackdown on their behalf.
“You lost the people that you love because our government refused to enforce our nation’s immigration laws,” Trump told families whose loved ones were killed by undocumented immigrants.
“Nobody died in vain,” Trump told the families.
About a dozen family members joined Trump around the Cabinet Room table and each told heartbreaking stories of their son, daughter or parent being murdered by someone who had no right to be in the country.
They praised Trump for hearing them express their grief, and urged lawmakers to pass immigration bills to prevent more deaths.
Among the attendees was Laura Wilkerson of Texas, whose son Josh was tortured and killed by an illegal immigrant.
“At the time he [Josh] was being slaughtered, I was calling his cellphone and I always will wonder, ‘ Did he hear that phone ring in his pocket?’ ’’ Wilkerson said.
“Did he feel it? Did he know his mom was looking for him the minute he was leaving this Earth? You don’t want any other family to endure this. This is about public safety.”
On Thursday, the House will vote on two immigration bills, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act and Kate’s Law, named for Kate Steinle, who was murdered in 2015 by an undocumented immigrant who had been deported five times.
The first bill would deny certain federal grants to sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with federal immigration rules.
Kate’s Law would increase criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants who re-enter the United States.