Migrant caravan is a political gift to Trump

Ever since President Trump came down a golden escalator in 2016 to announce his candidacy, the national conversation surrounding illegal immigration has never been the same. But what is often missed in his blunt talk and the hysteria it creates is that President Trump understands Americans’ desire for law and order. He also understands their need to feel safe.

The recent caravan of thousands of migrants from Central America who are seeking asylum in the United States underscores that point. While the media focuses solely on the humanitarian aspect of it, images and video of migrants lawlessly tearing down the gates into Mexico are a stark visual reminder of the need for increased border security. With only two weeks until Election Day, President Trump should hammer this point home.

By labeling himself the “law and order” candidate, Trump made immigration a winning issue for his 2016 campaign. Once again, Republicans are on the offense on the issue of immigration by focusing on sanctuary cities and liberals’ calls to abolish ICE. A recent memo from the liberal think tank the Center for American Progress warns Democrat candidates in competitive races that Republicans’ “sanctuary attacks pack a punch.” They warn Democrats to pivot to other issues.

Even when President Trump was getting hit the hardest from the media over his zero tolerance policy for families illegally crossing the border, Americans wanted law and order. In the midst of the debate, Harvard-Harris polling showed that 70 percent of Americans wanted stricter enforcement of our immigration laws and 61 percent believed our current border security is inadequate. A staggering 84 percent of Americans opposed sanctuary cities and 69 percent opposed abolishing ICE.

President Trump has also changed the dynamics of the immigration debate by giving a face to those who have been negatively impacted by it. During his State of the Union address, he told the stories of two teenage girls - Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens - who were brutally murdered by MS-13. He also highlighted how their murderers took advantage of loopholes in our laws to enter the country as unaccompanied minors.