AUSTIN – Former President Donald Trump made a statement during a campaign stop in Texas on Friday, focusing on his stance regarding border security. He proclaimed that Vice President Kamala Harris has “innocent blood on her hands” due to crimes by unauthorized immigrants, emphasizing his pledge for mass deportation.

“When I take office, I will initiate the most extensive mass deportation program in U.S. history,” Trump announced, delighting an audience of around 100 supporters at a private jet hangar in East Austin. “I will detain every migrant found in the U.S.” Reports suggest this plan could cost billions, according to YSL News.

Surrounded by Border Patrol agents and banners that read “DEPORT ILLEGALS NOW” and “END MIGRANT CRIME,” Trump introduced Alexis Nungaray, who lost her daughter, Jocelyn, whose body was discovered in a Houston bayou in June. Two undocumented Venezuelans face charges related to her death.

“Kamala Harris hasn’t reached out to me or offered any condolences,” Nungaray stated, blaming the Biden administration’s “open border” policies for her daughter’s death. While there was an increase in unauthorized migrant crossings during both Trump and Biden’s terms, the Biden administration has allowed a “catch-and-release” policy, letting migrants remain in the country while awaiting asylum hearings.

Nungaray was one of several speakers who criticized Harris for her immigration policies and for not visiting border areas often enough.

Meanwhile, about 160 miles to the east, crowds gathered at the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston for a rally hosted by Harris, centered on her campaign’s focus on reproductive rights.

Cruz, who appeared alongside Trump at the Austin rally, scoffed at Allred’s association with Harris.

“If you support Kamala Harris’ open borders, if you like her inflation policies, and her approach to crime, Colin Allred is your candidate because he aligns with Harris,” Cruz remarked to reporters.

During his approximately 40-minute speech, Trump highlighted his backing from the National Border Patrol Council, the union for Border Patrol agents, and reiterated claims that U.S. immigration policies are filled with criminals released from foreign mental institutions and prisons.

“It’s as if other countries are treating the U.S. as a dumping ground,” Trump stated. “If we don’t win this year, we might as well head to Venezuela to have a celebration because it’ll be safer there than here.”

Research consistently shows that immigrants commit crimes less frequently than American citizens. Nevertheless, Trump supporters insist that even one crime is unacceptable.

Trump did not mention his desire to prevent federal agencies from giving automatic citizenship to children of undocumented parents born in the U.S., an action he supports that would conflict with the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

Harris has criticized Trump for advising congressional Republicans to dismiss a bipartisan border bill, which eventually failed because Trump claimed it would benefit Biden politically. This bill proposed to give presidents more power to deny migrants during high traffic instances, tighten asylum policies, and increase resources for border control agencies.

Numerous Republicans, including Cruz, felt the bill was too lenient, arguing the Biden administration should have pursued measures to secure the border without needing congressional approval.

A Vibrant Audience

During the rally, Trump acknowledged several attendees, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Texas GOP Chair Abraham George.

<p”Trump remarked on the impeachment of Paxton, stating, “Attacking people unjustly tends to make them quite popular.”

A surprising presence at the event was the family of Vanessa Guillen, a soldier murdered in 2020 at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood). Guillen’s sister condemned a recent report by the Atlantic suggesting that Trump had said, “It doesn’t cost 60,000 bucks to bury a f—— Mexican!” and claimed he did not honor a promise to cover funeral expenses.

Supporters at the rally displayed their enthusiasm in various ways, from subtle to extravagant. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham wore a sparkling American flag-patterned blue dress, while another attendee sported white sneakers emblazoned with “45” in gold. Numerous red “Make America Great Again” hats, dating back to 2016, were also visible in the crowd.

Many attendees were involved in local Republican Party organizations and expressed to the American-Statesman their hopes for Trump to bridge political divides.

Abhiram Garapati, a rancher from Cedar Park eyeing a future congressional run, presented a felt cowboy hat marked “Donald J. Trump” to the former president at the rally.

“I arrived here from India with nothing 25 years ago,” Garapati shared, emphasizing his full support for Trump.

“Current politicians lack vision,” he asserted. “No one is saying, ‘Let’s send someone to the moon.’ We’ve lost leaders with grand aspirations for our nation who can unite us and set ambitious goals. That’s why I’m here.” He also voiced concerns about rising inflation, crime, and immigration as reasons to back the former president.

Garapati had a different opinion about Ted Cruz.

“I don’t understand why he faces so much opposition. He needs to address that as a politician,” Garapati stated, suggesting that Cruz should reconsider his stance on abortion rights.

“I hope both sides can arrive at some compromise so the country can progress instead of continuing to fight,” he commented.

Attendees also recalled the recent rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. Some wore shirts depicting the former president with a fist raised after a bullet grazed his earlobe.

Benjamin Shrader, a member of the Austin Young Republicans who was seated close to Trump, recounted witnessing a bullet hit Cory Comperatore, who was about ten feet away from him.

“I’m thankful he’s safe,” he remarked about Trump. “I detest violence and believe it is harmful to our nation, no matter which side it comes from; it poses a real danger.”

Trump moves on to a Podcast Session

Following the rally, Trump’s motorcade headed to Joe Rogan’s Austin studio to record an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Trump’s campaign likely anticipated that this appearance, popular among conservative-minded men, could boost voter turnout, as noted by Agriculture Commissioner Miller to reporters.

This trip to a non-battleground state for the podcast recording underscored a shift in the media landscape, as emphasized by Trump’s remarks.

“We have many fake news reporters,” he disparaged, specifically calling Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg a “sleazebag”. “These individuals pose a danger to democracy.”

Harris Supporters Gear Up for Houston Rally

Meanwhile, in Houston, long before Harris’ rally was set to start, a line wound around Shell Energy Stadium, home of the Houston Dynamo FC soccer team, containing thousands of eager attendees.

Under the shade of some crape myrtles along the stadium’s western wall sat cousins Jacqueline Sevier and Tracey Mason-Moore.

As Black women who matured in the 1980s, Mason-Moore and Sevier never imagined they would one day cast a vote for a woman of color in a presidential election. Now in their 60s, they reflected on the significance of this moment.

“This is going to be historical,” Mason-Moore remarked.

Both emphasized that abortion rights were their top priority for the upcoming election.

“What happens to someone who has been molested or raped?” Mason-Moore questioned regarding Texas’ nearly total ban on abortion.

Sevier added, “Especially when it could be a matter of life and death.”

When asked if the anticipated performance by pop star Beyoncé influenced their decision to wait in the long line, they nodded affirmatively.

“I’m supporting Harris, and that’s my only focus,” Sevier expressed. “I’ve reached an age where I don’t concern myself with Beyoncé.”

While in Houston on Friday, Harris condemned Trump’s remarks about the United States being a “garbage can,” asserting that the ex-president was insulting the American populace.

“This individual was once the president of the United States, and he holds significant influence,” Harris remarked to reporters ahead of the rally. “And this is how he chooses to wield it? By claiming that the United States of America is somehow worthless?”