Hillary Clinton used a Monday night speech to rally Hispanic voters against the immigration rhetoric of Donald Trump and other Republican presidential candidates.
“I wish all of this could go without saying, but no more than ever it needs to be said,” Clinton said at the National Immigrant Integration Conference in New York City. “This election has now become even more consequential. Here’s my starting point: Our immigration system is broken and we need to fix it.”
Trump has promised to build a wall separating Mexico and the United States, in order to keep out illegal immigrants, many of whom he describes as “rapists” and “criminals.” Clinton attempted to quell those fears stating, “I disagree with people who say ‘Make America Great Again.’ I think America is great already!”
This is a reference to Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
“We shouldn’t let anyone in the United States say they will shut doors, build walls or shut out talent,” Clinton added. “America was built by immigrants! Our economy depends on immigrants! And every single one of us, no matter how long ago our parents arrived in this land … owe a debt of gratitude to immigrants.”
Clinton promised to pass comprehensive immigration reform, which she claims would add millions of dollar to the United States’ GDP and help bring families together. She also vowed to defend progams delaying or preventing the deportation of many undocumented migrants.
Rep. Luis Guitierrez, D-Ill., introduced Clinton, calling her “a friend” to the Hispanic community and “someone who is going to protect families against an immigration system that is broken and failing.” The leading congressional booster of comprehensive immigration reform endorsed Clinton prior to her speech Monday.
“We have somebody who is going to protect us, we have somebody to protect those 800,000 men and women [involved with DAPA and DACA],” Gutierrez said of Clinton. “I want someone in the White House who is going to protect those names as we sign them up!”
Clinton has nevertheless attracted some criticism on these issues, both from the Republicans and the Democrats running to her left in the 2016 primaries.
“No matter what Hillary Clinton says, her record on immigration will always be one of flip-flops and political convenience,” said Ruth Guerra, the Republican National Committee’s director for Hispanic media. “On issue after issue throughout this campaign, Hillary Clinton has shown she will do or say anything to get elected.”
