Donald Trump unveils plan for 'massive cities of tents' in bid to limit asylum claims at US border

Donald Trump delivers remarks on immigration and border security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House
REUTERS

Donald Trump has unveiled plans to construct “massive cities of tents” in a bid to end the so-called “catch and release” of immigrants at the US border.

The president said he would put a stop to releasing asylum seekers into the country as he continued to push a hard line on immigration ahead of next week’s elections.

An executive order on immigration will be issued next week, the US leader added as he spoke to reporters at the White House on Thursday.

“We are not releasing them [asylum seekers] into our country any longer. They’ll wait there [at the border] for long periods of time. We will be putting up massive cities of tents”, Mr Trump said.

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He added: “We have thousands of tents. We have a lot of tents, we have a lot of everything… we are going to hold them right there [at the US border].”

President Trump said he was finalising the plan that would require immigrants seeking asylum to approach a legal port of entry.

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that any immigrant in the United States may apply for asylum, regardless of whether he or she entered the country through a designated entry port.

Mr Trump continued: "Migrants seeking asylum will have to present themselves lawfully at a port of entry,"

"Those who choose to break our laws and enter illegally will no longer be able to use meritless claims to gain automatic admission into our country," he added.

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Mr Trump has ramped up his tough stance on illegal immigration, an issue that appeals to his core supporters, before congressional elections on Tuesday.

The result will determine whether his fellow Republicans keep control of Congress.

In recent days, he has sought to present as a threat to the US a large group of migrants from Central America who have left poverty and violence at home and are heading slowly through Mexico toward the US border.

"These illegal caravans will not be allowed into the United States and they should turn back now," Mr Trump said. "We are stopping people at the border. This is an invasion."

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