Trump Boasts About Border Wall Construction and His Brazil Travel Ban During Oval Office Press Availability

Friday, May 29, 2020

Click on the Play Button to see video of immigration excerpts from press availability

President Trump yesterday boasted about the progress and effectiveness of the border wall he is building between the U.S. and Mexico, praised the government of Mexico for deploying troops along its border to control illegal immigration, praised the effectiveness of his efforts to close the border between U.S. and Mexico, and extolled the virtues of his travel ban with Brazil.  The President's remarks came during a May 28, 2020, press availability following an Oval Office briefing he and the First Lady received on 2020 hurricane preparations.

In his remarks, the President boasted that "almost 200 miles" of "brand new" wall between the U.S. and Mexico has been built, that "close to 400 miles" will be built by the end of the year, and that there will be "close to 500 miles" built by early next year.  He declared that no illegal crossings were occurring where the wall has been built, saying "wherever we have the wall, the issue of illegal border crossings  "virtually ceases as a problem."

Trump asserted that "record low numbers" of people are entering the United States along the country's southwest border and that in the cases where people do come in, "we take them immediately out" under emergency powers his administration is using. 

The President also praised the Mexican government for deploying 26,000 of its troops on its border and boasted about the "very strong" ban that his Administration has imposed on travel from Brazil, noting that United States citizens are allowed to come back in "under a very strict process."

Trump Falsely Accuses the state of California of Sending Mail-In Ballots to the Undocumented
​and other Noncitizens

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Click on the Play Button to see video of immigration excerpts from press availability

President Trump falsely accused the Governor of California today of sending election ballots to the undocumented  and other noncitizens,  The President's accusation was made on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at the end of a White House press availability about seniors and diabetes.  His comment on the matter was in response to one of four questions asked by reporters that either were about immigration or that prompted a response from him about the subject.

Responding to a question from a reporter about why he opposes mail-in voting, the President asserted that it would likely result in widespread fraud.  Amplifying on that notion, the President said without any citing any proof that the Governor of California has send or is planning to send, "millions of ballots all over the state to anybody - to anybody - people that aren't citizens, illegals, anybody that walks, in California is going to get a ballot.  We're not going to destroy this country by allowing things like that to happen.  We're not destroying our country."

Sunday, May 24, 2020

The White House proclamation bars the entry of persons if they were physically present in Brazil during the 14-day period prior to their travel, effective on May 28, 2020.  The ban shall be in effect until revoked by the President.

​Excepted from the ban are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, close relatives of U.S. citizens, some diplomats, and permanent residents, and flight crew members.  With Sunday's announcement, persons traveling from Brazil join persons traveling from China, Iran, the United Kingdom, and the countries of the European Union in being barred from entering the United States because of the coronavirus pandemic.