(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump, during a joint address to Congress, declared his administration has launched the “most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history.”
Trump noted that the Laken Riley Act, the first bill he signed after his reelection, mandated the detention of “dangerous criminal aliens” and used the tragedy to underscore his immigration policy. Riley’s mother and sister were guests of honor at the address, drawing bipartisan applause.
The president said that a change in leadership, not new legislation, was the key to controlling border crossings.
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“The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation to secure the border — but it turned out that all we really needed was a new president,” Trump told Congress.
Beyond border enforcement, Trump proposed a $5 million “gold card” citizenship pathway for wealthy investors, replacing the existing $1 million investor visa program.
He said that more than 100 countries have similar programs, though some, including Spain and the U.K., have discontinued them due to concerns about housing prices and security.
Trump called on Congress to expedite border funding “without delay,” targeting House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune for immediate action.
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“Joe Biden’s insane and very dangerous open border policies — they are now strongly embedded in our country but we are getting them out and getting them out fast,” Trump said, referring to migrants.
Trump also signed an executive order renaming a national wildlife refuge in Texas in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, who was killed by migrants after they crossed the border illegally.
NewsNation’s Cassie Buchman and partner The Hill contributed to this report.
