TEXT JOIN TO 77022

Illegal Immigrant Says He Wouldn’t Have Crossed Border if Trump Was President

A Brazilian man who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally told ABC’s Martha Raddatz that he would not have made the dangerous trip if former President Donald Trump were still in office.

During a segment on “This Week” that aired Sunday morning, Raddatz interviewed the Brazilian man who had crossed the border into Tucson, Arizona with his wife and three children. He explained to her that he made the choice not to come until President Joe Biden took office, the Daily Caller reported.

“This father who asked we not show his face, traveled to Mexico from Brazil with his wife and three young kids before crossing the border,” Raddatz said by way of introduction. “Would you have tried to do this when Donald Trump was president?”

“Definitely not. Definitely. We had the chance, you know, but the same violence that’s going on today was there last year,” the man replied, making it clear that it was the political situation in the United States rather than the situation in his home country that had made all the difference. “We used to watch the news, I definitely wouldn’t do this.”

“Did you come here because Joe Biden was elected president?” Raddatz asked.

“Basically. Basically,” the man said, adding, “The main thing was the violence in my country, and the second thing I think was Joe Biden. You know, it’s like it lightened up my hope, you know what I mean?”

According to The Daily Caller, the Biden administration has encouraged those who want to come to the United Stated to wait until there are mechanisms in place to speed the immigration process. However a number of critics have argued that Biden’s sudden reversal of Trump’s border policies like “Remain in Mexico” have contributed to the unprecedented surge of migrants illegally crossing into the U.S.

Get the news corporate media won't tell you.

Get caught up on today's must read stores!

By submitting your information, you agree to receive exclusive AG+ content, including special promotions, and agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms. By providing your phone number and checking the box to opt in, you are consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from my short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

About Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith is a newcomer to Washington D.C. She met and married an American journalist and moved to D.C. from the U.K. She graduated with a B.A. in Graphics, Media, and Communications and worked in design and retail in the U.K.

Photo: MATIAS ROMERO, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 02: Members of the Central American migrant caravan move to the next town at dawn on November 02, 2018 in Matias Romero, Mexico. The group of migrants, many of them fleeing violence in their home countries, last took a rest day on Wednesday and has resumed their journey towards the United States border. As fatigue from the heat, distance and poor sanitary conditions has set in, the numbers of people participating in the trek has slowly dwindled but a significant group are still determined to get to the United States. President Donald Trump said Wednesday as many as 15,000 troops may be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border in an effort to prevent members of the migrant caravan from illegally entering the country. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)