Trump press conference: President announces 'violence' from caravan will be met with radical military response
Remarks come as caravan of refugees and migrants makes its way slowly to the US-Mexico border
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Donald Trump has suggested stone-throwing migrants making it to the US-Mexico border might be shot by the US military, as he unveiled a proposal to limit the right to apply for asylum.
In a speech at the White House filled with several falsehoods, the president said he was seeking to limit asylum claims only to those who applied at legal entry points. He claimed the move was necessary because a series of migrant caravans – still up to a 1,000 miles from the border – was considered by some people to be “an invasion”.
“Asylum is not a programme for those living in poverty. There are billions of people in the world living at the poverty level. The United States cannot possibly absorb them all,” he said.
Mr Trump has ramped up his tough stance on illegal immigration, an issue that appeals to his core supporters, before crucial midterm elections on Tuesday that will decide if his Republican Party keep control of Congress.
“Asylum is a very specific protection based on those fleeing persecution.”
The migrants making their way northwards have come largely from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, all of which suffer from poverty and high levels of violence.
Honduran migrant caravan heads to the US
Show all 20He said some had thrown stones at, and attacked Mexican police and troops – a reference to clashes between Mexican security forces and up to 1,500 migrants at the Guatemala-Mexico border, that left one migrant dead. Meanwhile, even as the number of migrants attached to the original caravan continues to dwindle, a third group of around 500 migrants from El Salvador entered Guatemala last weekend.
“I hope there won’t be that. But I will tell you this, anybody throwing stones, rocks like they did to Mexico … Where they badly hurt police and soldiers of Mexico – we will consider that a firearm,” the president said.
“Because there’s not much difference when you get hit in the face with a rock.”
If you want to see how the press conference unfolded please see our live coverage below
Please allow a second for the live blog to load
If Mr Trump does look to change currently regulation, it will relate to the Immigration and Nationality Act, whch provides that any immigrant in the United States may apply for asylum, regardless of whether he or she entered the country through a designated port of entry.
Mr Trump will apparently insist that such applications be made at a legal point of entry.
The White House is said to have been discussing various options to address the caravans for days and it was possible that things could change before Mr Trump's 4.15pm remarks.
Mr Trump has warmed up fro this address by endorsing some more candidates ahead of the midterms on Tuesday.
Attacking the Democrat in the race for being "weak on crime and weak on borders".
The White House is flagging Mr Trump's speech as addressing "the crisis at the border".
"Illegal immigration affects the lives of all Americans" - Mr Trump claims it costs "billions and billions".
He calls the US a "welcoming country" and says that is true under his leadership too.
Critics would take issue with that statement, given Mr Trump's track record.
Says "mass" immigration is not fair on those that have waited their turn to come in on a "merit basis"
Mr Trump says that 1,500 to 2,000 people a year look to cross the border illegally. He calls the law "not archaic, they are incompetent".
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies