Donald Trump salutes ICE and CBP

Remarks by President at the Salute to the Heroes of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
“… We’re here today to salute the incredibly brave patriots who keep America safe: the heroes of ICE and CBC [sic]. To everyone here today from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection, I want to you let you know that we love you, we support you, we will always have your back, and I think you know that. (Applause.)

I want to thank a true and loyal friend of ICE and CBC, our wonderful Vice President, Mike Pence. Thank you, Mike. Beautiful. (Applause.) Thank you, Mike. Stand up, Mike. Stand up. Great, Mike. Great job.

I want to share my profound appreciation for our wonderful Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen. (Applause.) Where is Kirstjen? Kirstjen, thank you. Thank you. Great job. You’re doing a great job. Not easy.

And if we’ve got some great immigration laws, she would really set standard. But we’ve already broken every record in the book, haven’t we? So, thank you very much, Kirstjen.

Everyone here today understands a vital truth: that America is a land of opportunity because we are a nation of laws. For America to be a strong nation, we must have strong borders.

Helping to lead that effort are great patriots in the audience today, including our new Acting Director of ICE, Ron Vitiello. Where is Ron? Ron — thank you, Ron. Stand up, Ron. Great job. (Applause.) Good. Thank you, Ron.

And the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Kevin McAleenan. (Applause.) Where’s Kevin? Thank you.

The new Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol — the first woman ever to hold the job — Carla Provost. (Applause.) Carla, thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations, Carla.

And our new Acting Deputy Director of ICE, Matt Albence. Where is Matt? (Applause.) Matt. Thank you, Matt. Thank you.

We’re also grateful to be joined today by a really wonderful friend of mine, and a tremendous senator, and that’s David Perdue. (Applause.) David? Come on, David. You’ve done a great job, David. We really appreciate it. The people of Georgia really appreciate it, that I can tell you. Thank you very much.

Many state and local partners are represented in the audience, including Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. Doug? Thank you, Doug, for being here. (Applause.) Thank you, Doug. Great job you’re doing.

A wonderful man, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Steve, thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you.

A friend of mine, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, and sheriffs from all around the country. Thank you, Alan. Thank you. (Applause.) Sheriffs, thank you. Say hello to your father.

Most importantly, let me extend my gratitude to every law enforcement professional representing ICE and CBC: Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations,

ICE prosecutors, the Office of Field Operations, Air and Marine Operations, and Border Patrol. You’re incredible people. You do an unbelievable job. You’re not appreciated enough, but I’ll tell you what: Ninety-nine percent — we get it. We really get it. We love you. We’ll always be with you. We’ll never let you down. Thank you very much for being here, too. (Applause.)

Over the last year — these are incredible numbers — ICE and CBC seized more than 2.8 million pounds of illicit and deadly narcotics. A lot of people would have died. In the interior of our country, ICE officers arrested over 127,000 criminal aliens — and these are tough ones too, aren’t they, fellas? Right? These are tough — these were tough ones — including those charged or convicted of 48,000 assaults, 12,000 sex crimes, and 1,800 homicides. We need strong people to handle those people. We don’t play games, right? We don’t play games.

Every day, on average, CBC prevents 10 known or suspected terrorists from entering the United States. What a job you’ve done.

To protect our nation from smuggling, trafficking, drugs, crime, the men and women of DHS are building the border wall as we sit, and the wall is getting longer, and taller, and stronger each and every day. We’ve spent and will soon be spending about $3.2 billion and we’re looking for about $5 billion for this next coming year. We’re building the wall, step-by-step. And it’s not easy because we have a little opposition called, “the Democrats.” I guess they just don’t mind crime. They don’t mind crime. It’s pretty sad.

Just this past month, CBC officers at a single port of entry discovered more than 30,000 fentanyl pills, 62 pounds of meth — that’s a lot — and 11 pounds of heroin.

Two of those officers are here: Alfredo Olfahto and David Skiahno. Where are they? Where are they? They’re right here. (Applause.) Stand up, please. (Applause.)

And Alfredo, David: Thank you for the amazing job you’ve done. We all appreciate it — everybody in this room, everybody in this country.

Just over a week ago, a human smuggler was arrested in Laredo for locking — and really locking — a horrible 78 illegal aliens inside of a trailer. The Border Patrol Agent who caught the accused — and likely really saved many lives — he’s here with us — and Adrian — where’s Adrian? Adrian is here with us. Thank you, Adrian. Great job. Thank you. It’s a lot of lives. (Applause.) That’s great.” more at wh.gov

We( USA) are a nation of laws! . President Trump Participates in the Salute to the Heroes of ICE & CBP. White House official video

 

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