Trump spells out his immigration plans

PHOENIX, THURSDAY

White House hopeful Donald Trump issued a stern anti-immigration warning today after visiting Mexico, saying people who cross into the United States illegally would never obtain legal status.

It was one in a series of stark declarations that framed a sweeping plan to crack down on illegal immigration following his more measured tone earlier in the day, when the Republican nominee huddled with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

“We will break the cycle of amnesty and illegal immigration,” Mr Trump declared to a rowdy crowd in Phoenix.

Immigration is Mr Trump’s signature issue as he battles Democrat Hillary Clinton ahead of the November 8 election, and he laid out a tough, 10-point plan to end illegal border crossings and abusive behaviour by undocumented people in the country.

“Our message to the world will be this: you cannot obtain legal status or become a citizen of the United States by illegally entering our country,” he said. “Those days are over.”

The fiery speech confirmed Mr Trump’s hard line on immigration shortly after he insisted to Pena Nieto that a giant wall would be built on the US-Mexico border if he is elected.
The billionaire candidate’s plan includes deporting immigrants with criminal records, cancelling President Barack Obama’s executive orders protecting millions of undocumented migrants, and blocking federal funding to so-called “sanctuary cities” that bar discrimination against the undocumented.

Mrs Clinton has expressed support for a pathway to citizenship for most of America’s undocumented.

Her campaign called Trump’s performance part of his “campaign of hate”.