Speaking from the Rose Garden Friday morning, President Donald Trump made his case for declaring a national emergency and blasted the media for failing to cover Americans killed by illegal aliens.
"We're going to confront the national security crisis on our southern border—and we're going to do it one way or the other," Trump said. "We have removed thousands of MS-13 gang monsters. We take them out by the thousands and they are monsters."
President Trump also appeared to suggest death as a penalty for drug dealers.
"We want to stop drugs from coming into our country. We want to stop criminals and gangs...we have an invasion of drugs and criminals coming into our country," Trump said. "Unfortunately we have new Angel Moms...the press doesn't want to cover them."
Trump says “unfortunately we have NEW angel moms.” This woman’s daughter was killed in ‘18. “They don’t want what happened to their children” to happen to anyone else. pic.twitter.com/aaXO3k1jTC
— Jon Miller (@MillerStream) February 15, 2019
ACOSTA: "I believe in facts... What do you say to your critics who say you are creating a national emergency?"
— BlazeTV (@BlazeTV) February 15, 2019
TRUMP: "Ask the Angel Moms. Do you think I'm crating something? Ask these incredible women who lost their daughters and their sons." pic.twitter.com/VmYqLP4sli
A number of Angel Moms sat in the front row, next to members of President Trump's Cabinet, for the announcement.
President Trump Speaks on the National Security & Humanitarian Crisis on Our Southern Border https://t.co/FqdfFORbv5
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 15, 2019
"The order is signed and I'll sign the final papers when I get back into the Oval Office," Trump said.
President @realDonaldTrump signs the Declaration for a National Emergency to address the national security and humanitarian crisis at the Southern Border. pic.twitter.com/0bUhudtwvS
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) February 15, 2019
President Trump acknowledged his administration will be sued for the declaration, but is confident the move will eventually win out.
"I expect to be sued," Trump said. "I think we will be very successful in court. It's very clear."
Pres says he expects he'll be sued for using a National Emergency declaration to access funds for a border wall. Expects he'll be sued in the 9th Circuit, which he thinks too often rules against him, but will appeal to the Supreme Court, where he expects to be upheld. pic.twitter.com/LI438FLm5T
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 15, 2019
President Trump also called for major immigration reform.
"We have a real problem. We have catch and release. You catch a criminal and you release him," Trump said.
The President has already determined he can get $8 billion for border security that has already been allocated for national security purposes.