Donald Trump’s presidential campaign came full circle on Thursday night, as the businessman and reality star officially accepted the Republican nomination at the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland with a speech filled with anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The comments were highly reminiscent of statements he made when launching his campaign last June, which painted Mexican immigrants as “rapists” and “criminals.” In his speech, Trump assured followers that he would “build a great border wall” as the crowd chanted back “build a wall.”
“Nearly 180,000 people with criminal records ordered deported from our country are tonight roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens,” Trump said during his speech Thursday night. “The number of new illegal immigrant families who have crossed the border so far this year only exceed the entire total from 2015. They are being released by the tens of thousands into our community with no regard for the impact of public safety and resources.”
But facts seem to be against the Donald, as reports have actually shown a steep decline in Mexican migration since 2009. A 2015 Pew Research Center report even found that more Mexicans were leaving than coming to the United States since then. Plus, studies have also shown that undocumented immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native born citizens.
So, Trump’s fear-mongering claims de-humanizing illegal immigrants and portraying them as dangerous received plenty of fact checking and reactions on Twitter by immigration advocacy groups and Latinos.
Check out some of the best Latino reactions to Trump’s entire RNC speech below:
"Any politician who does not grasp this danger is not fit to lead our country." —Orange Man Who Cannot Grasp His Own Hair.
— Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) July 22, 2016
"There will be no lies" <---That was a lie #RNCinCLE 👀
— Julissa Bermudez (@JulissaB) July 22, 2016
Yup. You'll feel safe if you're not black or brown or a woman or a Muslim or, or, or...
— Wilson Cruz (@wcruz73) July 22, 2016
Trump sounds like a petulant uneducated child who is highly insane #RNCinCLE
— Carolyn Gonzalez (@carogonza) July 22, 2016
One of the saddest days in the history of America. A racist, sexist, anti-immigrant...(can go on) has accepted the GOP nomination #RNCinCLE
— Erika Andiola (@ErikaAndiola) July 22, 2016
To my undocumented friends, I love you so much & I am so sorry you have to hear this. You are wonderful Americans. #RNCinCLE
— Alida Garcia (@leedsgarcia) July 22, 2016
The nerve of saying you'll protect LGBT people when Mike Pence is your VP #RNCinCLE
— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) July 22, 2016
Trump trying to be America's voice. #NotMyVoice pic.twitter.com/4yxr4r5KJu
— Tanisha L. Ramirez (@TanishaLove) July 22, 2016
Homeboy you don't love "our people," you're trying to kick us out! You are the biggest supporter of violence.
— Albert Serna Jr (@AlbertPBJ) July 22, 2016
Is there an article on the length of speeches by authoritarians? Asking for a friend.
— Liz del Carmen (@LizMartinezG) July 22, 2016
I'm going to end crime. Won't tell you how till after you vote for me.
— Cristela Alonzo (@cristela9) July 22, 2016
Trump looks like sweaty Nixon of 1960 during the TV debate. #RNCinCLE
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) July 22, 2016
I fixed Donald Trump's speech to make it WAYYYYY more interesting. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/JMH4MnTtG2
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) July 22, 2016
The message: Dear Black and Brown people, you have been free long enough your time is up, #DumpTrump #RNCinCLE @DrJillStein @GreenPartyUS
— Rosa A. Clemente (@rosaclemente) July 22, 2016
This photos accurately sums up how I feel about @realDonaldTrump's speech at the #RNCinCLE. https://t.co/PrA7dVBTq7 pic.twitter.com/iQbW5VW40B
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) July 22, 2016
This is a televised Klan rally. #RNCinCLE
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) July 22, 2016
The terrorism and immigration topics are being discussed together as if it were one topic. #RNCinCLE
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) July 22, 2016
The pulse victims were Latino. Some undocumented. The very people he hates. How dare he. #RNCinCLE #SomosOrlando
— Alida Garcia (@leedsgarcia) July 22, 2016
I AM YOUR VOICE #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/MnJDbnLBSJ
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) July 22, 2016
Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar,rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims ― 1.6 billion members of an entire religion ― from entering the U.S.