Donald Trump is set to criticize President Joe Biden’s approach to the U.S.-Mexico border during his visits to Wisconsin and Michigan, key swing states in the upcoming 2024 election.
Donald Trump is set to kick off his campaign events with a speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he will address the issue of what his campaign has dubbed “Biden’s Border Bloodbath.” Following that, he will hold a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, coinciding with the state’s presidential primaries.
Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Grand Rapids following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant who has been accused of murder.
According to polls, Trump holds an edge over Biden when it comes to immigration issues, as many voters express concerns about the escalating number of illegal border crossings. In the past few weeks, Trump and fellow Republicans have focused on notable cases involving immigrants who are in the U.S. unlawfully and have been charged with crimes. One such case involved the tragic killing of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia, for which a Venezuelan man has been charged.
On Tuesday, Trump is anticipated to address the tragic death of Ruby Garcia, a woman from Michigan who was discovered lifeless on the side of a highway in Grand Rapids on March 22. According to the police, Brandon Ortiz Vite, who was in a romantic relationship with Garcia, confessed to shooting her multiple times during an argument. He then callously left her body on the roadside and fled in her red Mazda.
According to court records, Ortiz Vite, a Mexican citizen, had been previously deported after being arrested for drunk driving. It is worth noting that he does not currently have legal representation.
In a statement previewing the former president’s speech, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt emphasized the impact of Joe Biden’s policies on immigration. She stated, “Under Crooked Joe Biden, EVERY state is now a border state. EVERY town is now a Border Town because Joe Biden has brought the carnage, chaos, and killing from all over the world and dumped it straight into our own backyards.”
According to the FBI statistics, violent crime in the United States experienced a further decline last year, following a previous increase during the pandemic. In Michigan, the state recorded a three-year low in violent crime in 2022, based on the latest data. Even in Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, crime rates have decreased, with the fewest number of homicides occurring last year since 1966.
During Trump’s rally in Georgia last month, Riley’s family had the opportunity to meet with him backstage. However, it was uncertain whether Garcia’s family would attend. In a recent interview with conservative Michigan radio host Justin Barclay, Trump expressed his desire to have Garcia’s family present at the rally, stating that it would be an honor for him. He asked Barclay to coordinate their attendance if they were interested.
Last week, her sister took to Facebook to make a heartfelt plea, asking reporters to refrain from politicizing her sister’s story.
In his campaign, Biden has consistently criticized Trump for his involvement in sabotaging a bipartisan border agreement that aimed to increase the number of Customs and Border Protection personnel by over 1,500, along with implementing other restrictions. As a response, Biden’s team preemptively accused Trump of engaging in similar actions.
Alyssa Bradley, the Michigan communications director for the Biden campaign, criticized Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Grand Rapids. She expressed concerns that Trump would use the opportunity to exploit a tragedy and promote hate and division, diverting attention from his own failures in serving the people of Michigan.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, expressed her concern about the current situation on the southern border on Monday. She emphasized the urgent need for Congress and the President to address and resolve this issue.
Governor Whitmer expressed her frustration with Republicans for not finding a solution to the problem at hand. She pointed out that it was the former president who urged them to abandon any efforts to resolve the issue. The governor emphasized that she has little patience for political games that put the economy and the people at risk, as was evident in the recent events in Grand Rapids.
Since becoming the party’s presumptive nominee, Trump has consistently used inflammatory language to address the significant increase in migrants at the southern border. He has gone as far as characterizing migrants as a threat to the country, suggesting that some should not be regarded as human beings. Furthermore, he has made baseless claims that countries are releasing their prisoners and mentally ill individuals into the United States.
According to him, Biden has been accused of engaging in a “conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America.” The accusation states that Biden is attempting to dismantle the American system, disregard the desires of the American voters, and establish a new source of authority that would grant them control for years to come.
Just six months before the first early votes are cast in the general election, Republicans in both states find themselves in catch-up mode, lagging behind Democrats in terms of organization.
According to Michigan Republican Party Chairman Pete Hoekstra, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have not made substantial investments in Michigan for the general election. Hoekstra mentioned that there are no general election field staff currently in place.
In recent weeks, Republican lawmakers in Michigan have faced their fair share of controversy. State Rep. Matthew Maddock made an inaccurate statement, alleging that buses transporting college athletes to Detroit for the March Madness tournament were actually bringing in illegal migrant “invaders” into the city.
In Wisconsin, Democrats have been highlighting their impressive statewide organization. They proudly mention their 44 field offices that are currently operational across the state, along with a dedicated staff of over 50 individuals.
The Trump campaign has not yet appointed any leaders or organizers for the Wisconsin state party.
In recent years, the Wisconsin Republican Party has faced significant challenges in terms of fundraising, with a noticeable decrease in funds compared to previous years. Additionally, the party’s executive director departed in March, which created a void in leadership just months before the national convention was scheduled to take place in Milwaukee.
Democrats are celebrating a series of victories, with one recent example being the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Republican-drawn legislative maps. This ruling is anticipated to lead to gains for the Democratic party.
President Trump will be visiting the state for the first time since 2022. During his last visit, he held a rally to support Tim Michels, a gubernatorial candidate, who unfortunately lost to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
According to Trump’s campaign, they are currently making efforts to catch up by opening numerous offices and recruiting several hundred staff members within the next 30 to 45 days.
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