Shortly after signing executive orders on immigration on Wednesday, President Trump addressed employees at the Department of Homeland Security.
Standing alongside the new DHS Secretary John Kelly, Trump told the agency that his cabinet appointee will not let them down.
“Secretary Kelly will deliver for the American people,” he said.
Addressing the border crisis, Trump said DHS does not need new laws. Instead, we need to simply allow agents to do their jobs.
“Agents haven’t been allowed to do their jobs,” he said. “That’s going to change. I’m asking all of you to enforce the laws.”
The president said his administration will specifically work to keep illegal weapons and cash flowing out of America and into Mexico and target drug cartels.
“We are going to save lives on both sides of the border,” he said.
Trump noted that he intends to establish a better relationship with Mexico. A strong and healthy economy in Mexico is very good for the U.S., he said, adding that he’s “looking forward” to meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto again.
Trump provided more specifics, explaining that the DHS will be ending catch-and-release, tamping down on sanctuary cities, adding 5,000 border patrol officers, and tripling the number of ICE officers.
“You both do an incredible job but you need help,” Trump told his audience.
The president used a more somber tone when he said he will also be introducing an office to help victims of illegal immigrant crime, pointing to the parents in the audience who lost children at the hands of illegal immigrants.
“You will never be ignored again,” Trump told them. “Your children will not have lost their lives for no reason. They will always be remembered.”
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