President Trump delivered a blunt call on illegal immigration Tuesday, renewing his call for deportations, calling on Congress for help and warning that fraud is rampant and “importing these cultures” threatens the U.S.
Mr. Trump, in his State of the Union address, told lawmakers to pass legislation requiring identification and proof of citizenship before voting, warning of fraud in elections.
“Why would anybody not want voter ID? Because they want to cheat,” he said.
Mr. Trump made the issue personal, drawing stark lines in the chamber as he challenged lawmakers to stand if they supported the idea that the “first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants.”
The Democratic side of the chamber remained largely seated.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up,” the president said, as Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who came to the U.S. as a Somali refugee, shouted back at him from the chamber floor.
Her anger was stoked after Mr. Trump unloaded on “members of the Somali community,” who he said are responsible for collecting more than $19 billion in fraudulent government benefits.
“This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation,” the president said, decrying what he called “Somali pirates” who “ransacked” the government.
He said he has declared a “war on fraud,” and made clear he sees immigration as the root of the issue.
“Importing these cultures through unrestricted and open borders brings these problems right here to the USA,” he said.
Democrats were incensed by Mr. Trump and his call for deportations at the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“You’re killing Americans,” shouted Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Democrat.
Rep. Norma Torres, California Democrat, held up a sign with one side bearing a photo of Alex Pretti and the other side a photo of Renee Good, protesters who were killed by immigration agents in Minnesota during the recent ICE crackdown.
Mr. Trump did not address the recent shootings of U.S. citizens by ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents, but celebrated the agencies’ achievements in cutting illegal immigration.
He contrasted his record with that of the Biden administration.
“The only thing standing between Americans and wide open borders right now is President Donald J. Trump and our great Republican patriots in Congress,” the president said.
Mr. Trump also criticized the lack of English skills among some immigrants, saying it was a danger to have them on the roads when they are driving big rigs.
He pointed to Dalilah Coleman, a guest in the gallery, who at the age of 5 was in an accident in 2024 caused by an illegal immigrant driving a truck under a commercial driver’s license issued by California.
Mr. Trump called on Congress to pass legislation blocking states from being able to issue such licenses to illegal immigrants.
• Mallory Wilson contributed to this report.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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