During the CNN Presidential Debate on June 28, 2024, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden clashed over their respective records on immigration. Trump accused mental institutions and prisons in foreign countries of emptying out to send people to the US, while Biden labeled these statements as lies.
Trump's claims about immigrants coming from mental institutions and prisons have been debunked by research. Most studies show that immigrants tend to lower crime rates because they commit crimes at a lower rate than native-born citizens. For instance, a Cato Institute paper found that immigrants lacking documentation in Texas had a lower conviction rate than natural-born citizens every year from 2013 to 2022.
Trump also argued that the U.S. had the safest border under his presidency but opened it up upon leaving office, leading to an influx of people from all over the world, including criminals and terrorists. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.
Biden responded by highlighting a 40% drop in arrests for illegal immigration since issuing an executive order suspending asylum. He also criticized Trump for separating families at the border during his presidency and accused him of lying about the situation at the border.
The debate came amidst rising concerns over immigration, with only 3 in 10 Americans approving of Biden's handling of the issue. The topic has become a major campaign issue, particularly for Republicans who have criticized Biden's policies and accused him of being soft on immigration.
Despite the heated exchange between Trump and Biden, it is important to note that both sides have biases and agendas. It is crucial to consider multiple sources of information when forming an opinion on this complex issue.
