Trump to speak on illegal immigration

  • 29/08/2016
US Republican nominee Donald Trump speaks at "Joni's Roast and Ride" in Des Moines, Iowa (Reuters)
US Republican nominee Donald Trump speaks at "Joni's Roast and Ride" in Des Moines, Iowa (Reuters)

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has tweeted that he would make a major speech on illegal immigration in Arizona on Wednesday.

The announcement came a day after Trump said he would crack down on illegal immigrants who overstay their visas, as he sought to clarify his views on how to overhaul the US immigration system.

Last week, Trump had said he was "softening" on his plan to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants.

That stance had aroused criticism from conservatives who wanted him to stand fast after he won the Republican presidential nomination in large part with a hard-line position that called for building a wall along the US border with Mexico.

"I will be making a major speech on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION on Wednesday in the GREAT State of Arizona. Big crowds, looking for a larger venue," Trump, who had postponed an immigration speech originally planned for last Thursday in Denver, said in his tweet on Sunday.

In another tweet on Sunday night, Trump said both he and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival for the November 8 election, should release detailed medical records. "I have no problem in doing so! Hillary?"

In his speech on Saturday in Iowa, Trump said he would seek to institute a tracking system to ensure illegal immigrants who overstay their visas are quickly removed, and would propose an e-verify system to prevent undocumented residents from gaining access to welfare and other benefits.

"If we don't enforce visa expiration dates, then we have an open border - it's as simple as that," he said.

Reuters