President Donald Trump delivered a stark message to would-be illegal immigrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, before departing for a whirlwind trip to Europe Tuesday.
Trump’s remarks came after being pressed about a California court’s decision to reject his administration’s request to allow the U.S. government to house illegal immigrant families together while awaiting an appearance before a federal judge.
“I have a solution. Tell people not to come to our country illegally,” Trump responded. “That’s the solution. Don’t come to our country illegally. Come like other people do. Come legally. We have laws. We have borders. Don’t come to our country illegally. It’s not a good thing. And as far as ICE is concerned, the people that are fighting ICE? It’s a disgrace. These people go into harm’s way. There is nobody under greater danger than the people from ICE.”
Trump attempted to head off the issue of legally having to separate children and their accompanying adults at the U.S.-Mexico border while adults are prosecuted for illegally entering the country by signing a recent executive order. The Trump administration justified its attempt to deter illegal immigration by noting that its hands were tied by a decades-old court settlement.