Chuck Schumer responds, demands Trump rescind cuts to anti-terrorism funding

“I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America. President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution — anti-terrorism funding — which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget,” Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said in a statement Wednesday.

“I’m calling on the President to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding,” Schumer added.

In a tweet, Schumer also criticized Trump for politicizing the attack.

Trump on Wednesday accused Schumer and other Democrats of supporting an immigration system that allows people like the suspect in Tuesday’s terrorist attack in New York to enter the U.S., and said he would keep pushing to end the diversity visa program.

“The terrorist came into our country through what is called the ‘Diversity Visa Lottery Program,’ a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. “We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends.”

Trump also cited a Fox News report that also blamed Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, for “helping to import Europes problems” with a relaxed immigration system.

The suspect in Tuesday’s attack, Sayfullo Saipov, is a 29-year-old man who legally immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan, and reports Tuesday night said he entered the U.S. in 2010 through the diversity visa program. He allegedly rented a van from a Home Depot in New Jersey hours before driving into Manhattan, where he drove into bikers in a private path.

Following the attack Tuesday, Trump tweeted that the Islamic State was not welcome in the U.S. and changed his Twitter cover photo to an image of the New York skyline.

“We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!” Trump tweeted. “In NYC, looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. Law enforcement is following this closely. NOT IN THE U.S.A.!”