Trump’s immigration talking points carried over to the convention

THE BORDER

Talking point: Open borders are leading to a cascade of migrants flowing into the United States.

Reality check: Illegal immigration has declined significantly in recent years, holding steady at or near “net zero” — in other words, as many Mexicans are leaving as entering the U.S.

Trump: “I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me — and I'll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.”

CRIME THREAT

Talking point: Americans are being victimized by a wave of criminal immigrants.

Reality check: The argument that immigrants living in the U.S. illegally are more prone to violent crime is contradicted by various studies. In fact, a 2008 study by the Public Policy Institute of California found that immigrants were underrepresented in the prison system.

Trump: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best . ... They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” (June 16, 2015)

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Talking point: Bad trade deals and immigrant labor are hurting the U.S. economy.

Reality check: The Congressional Research Service concluded last year that NAFTA did not have a huge impact on jobs one way or the other, claims of defenders and critics notwithstanding. But U.S.Mexico trade, $500 billion a year and growing, supports 6 million American jobs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Trump: “I think NAFTA has been a disaster . ... I’m a free trader. The problem with free trade is, you need smart people representing you. We have the greatest negotiators in the world, but we don’t use them. We use political hacks and diplomats. We use the wrong people. Mexico is smart; they have out-negotiated us to a fare-theewell. They're going to be the capital of automobiles pretty soon, the way they're going.”