WASHINGTON — During his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Trump defended his administration’s immigration policies by citing crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, but omitted any mention of U.S. Citizens killed by immigration agents. The omission drew immediate criticism from Democrats, including Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), who highlighted the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Trump began his address emphasizing what he described as “the strongest and most secure border in American history,” even as also stating his administration would “always allow people to reach in legally, people that will love our country and will work hard to maintain our country.” This rhetoric contrasts with the administration’s restrictions on legal immigration, including the revocation of humanitarian benefits and a pause on asylum applications, according to the provided source material.
Lawmakers used the State of the Union as a platform to present contrasting narratives on immigration. Representative Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) brought the father and brother of Sarah Root, who was killed in 2016 by a driver in the U.S. Illegally. Trump held a separate event Monday for “angel families” – those who have lost relatives to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants – and signed a proclamation honoring them.
Democrats countered by inviting immigrants, family members of those detained or deported, and U.S. Citizens impacted by immigration enforcement. Representative Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) invited the daughter of a couple deported to Colombia, while Representative Jesus Garcia (D-Ill.) invited Marimar Martinez, a Chicago woman shot by a Border Patrol agent.
The Department of Homeland Security responded to the Democratic invitations on X, asserting that the lawmakers were “once again prioritizing illegal aliens above the safety of American citizens.”
Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) held a news conference promoting her Dignity Act, which proposes a path to legal status for immigrants meeting specific criteria. Salazar framed the issue in religious terms, contrasting leaders who “persecute faith communities” with those who “protect them.”
Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) boycotted the speech, citing concerns about immigration enforcement and alleging violations of the Constitution and laws by the administration. He specifically criticized “masked armed, poorly trained agents, victimizing our cities, demanding to observe people’s papers.”
Trump repeated previously debunked claims about immigration, including assertions that President Biden’s policies allowed “millions of people” to enter the U.S. From prisons and mental institutions. He also cited a figure of “11,888 murderers” – a misrepresentation of federal data referring to immigrants convicted of homicide, often while incarcerated, and listed on ICE’s non-detained docket.
The President also made disparaging remarks about Somalis, claiming they had defrauded American taxpayers of $19 billion – a disputed figure – and referring to them as “Somali pirates.” He broadened his criticism to include other immigrants, suggesting that importing cultures with “bribery, corruption and lawlessness” harms the U.S.
Trump highlighted the case of Dalilah Coleman, a 6-year-old girl injured in a 2024 car crash in California, calling for the passage of the “Dalilah Law” to prevent states from issuing commercial drivers licenses to immigrants without lawful status. He claimed, without evidence, that most undocumented immigrants cannot read road signs. Her father, Marcus Coleman, told Fox26 News that legal status shouldn’t be the focus, as similar accidents occur frequently.
The parents of Sarah Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member killed in Washington, D.C., and Andrew Wolfe, who was shot and survived, were also present. Trump awarded both men the Purple Heart and labeled the alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a “terrorist monster.” Lakanwal entered the U.S. Legally through a Biden administration program and his asylum application was approved during the Trump administration.
Looking ahead to the midterm elections, Trump warned that Democrats would reopen the borders to “some of the worst criminals anywhere in the world” if they regained power. He then called on legislators to stand if they agreed that protecting American citizens should be the government’s first priority. Republicans stood in unison, while Democrats remained seated. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) responded from the audience, yelling, “You have killed Americans! Try to be ashamed.”
