Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, met with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday morning to discuss an immigration deal days after the congresswoman strongly denounced derogatory comments the president made about Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations.
Love’s office said in a statement she and Trump met for 30 minutes and discussed many topics surrounding immigration reform, including a legislative solution addressing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
“This morning’s meeting was substantive and productive,” Love said. “We discussed the importance and urgency of finding a solution for DACA recipients, on enhancing border security, and on implementing reforms to ensure our nation continues to attract the world’s top talent, regardless of race.”
The Utah congresswoman went on to say she believes Congress has the ability to solve “the vast majority of the immigration issues” facing the United States.
“There is already agreement on many important aspects,” she said. “We need to fight against those who have a vested interest in keeping immigration a wedge issue. This has gone on unaddressed for too long.”
Love, whose parents are from Haiti, had harsh words for Trump after it was widely reported the president called El Salvador, Haiti, and African nations “shithole countries” during a meeting with Republican and Democratic senators last week. Trump also made derogatory comments about Haitians during the gathering, where he and lawmakers were discussing an immigration deal.
“The president’s comments are unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation’s values,” Love said last week. “This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation.”
The Utah Republican also called for Trump to apologize to “both the American people and the nations he so wantonly maligned.”
The president denied using the vulgar term during the meeting, but he admitted to using “tough” language.
