CALEXICO, CA (KMJ) – President Trump was visiting California, holding a roundtable with Border Patrol and Homeland Security on the Southern border with Mexico.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims was part of the roundtable discussion Friday in Calexico.
Sheriff Mims told President Trump that the number one issue she hears from other law enforcement across the nation is border security.
“Mr. President there is a border crisis, and this crisis does not stay at the border. Without a secure border, transnational gangs, human traffickers, and drug cartels will take advantage of any opportunity to further their criminal behavior in our local communities,” said Sheriff Mims.
Sheriff Mims appearing alongside GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, among others.
President Trump had harsh words for California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who denounced Trump’s comments about getting rid of the asylum system, saying the president’s rhetoric disregards — quote — “what it means to be an American.”
Newsom says that since its founding, the United States has been a refuge and safe haven for people fleeing tyranny, oppression and violence.
The governor says the president’s rhetoric disregards the Constitution, the justice system “and what it means to be an American.”
In comments at the White House as he left for California, Trump urged Congress “to get rid of the whole asylum system because it doesn’t work.”
During his visit, the president said Newsom’s viewpoint is unrealistic.
“Governor Newsom, honestly, is living in a different world, and that’s a very dangerous world he’s living in, and if he keeps living there – lots of problems for the people of California,” said Trump. “They don’t want that – they want to be secure, they want to be safe, and not only asylum but many other things.”
Trump’s administration has been pushing Congress to pass legislation that would tighten asylum rules.
Gov. Newsom and California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a motion Friday to block the president from taking $1.6 billion in taxpayer funds for what they call an “illegal” border wall.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
