Donald Trump has intensified his anti-immigration rhetoric during a rally in Aurora, Colorado, where he labeled illegal migrants as dangerous criminals and called for the death penalty for those who kill U.S. citizens.
Standing next to posters depicting alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Trump announced that if elected, he would initiate a national “Operation Aurora” aimed at targeting gang members.
As a Republican presidential candidate, Trump has notably escalated his anti-immigration stance in the lead-up to the November 5 election, where he aims to challenge Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
“I’m hereby calling for the death penalty for any migrant that kills an American citizen or a law enforcement officer,” Trump declared, eliciting cheers from his supporters.
He has previously proposed expanding the death penalty to include other offenses, such as those convicted of sex trafficking women and children.
While a federal death penalty exists, it is seldom utilized, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a non-profit organization. Expanding the list of eligible crimes would require an act of Congress.
