The Republican National Convention resumed Tuesday with a focus on immigration, highlighting a key issue from former President Donald Trump’s political brand. Speakers included families affected by violent crimes, linking crime to border policies, such as the family of Rachel Morin, allegedly killed by a fugitive from El Salvador.
Trump’s stance on immigration, criticizing illegal entries and connecting migration to crimes and drug trafficking, was emphasized, despite federal data indicating most fentanyl traffickers are U.S. citizens. He has promised the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and claimed, without evidence, that migrants are entering to vote in the 2024 election.
Rep. Steve Scalise accused Biden and Harris of wanting “illegals to vote,” while Senate candidates blamed Biden and Harris for border issues. Kari Lake criticized the media and Democrats for border policies, appealing to the GOP base.
High-profile GOP figures like Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Vivek Ramaswamy also spoke. Security incidents outside the convention included the arrest of a man with an AK-47 and a fatal police shooting involving a knife fight.
Following an assassination attempt on Trump, security was heightened. Scalise, recalling his own experience with political violence, praised Trump’s leadership. Trump is expected to speak Thursday, with a potentially more toned-down message after the attempt on his life.
