President Trump on Wednesday accused Sen. Chuck Schumer and other Democrats for supporting an immigration system that allows people like the suspect in Tuesday's terrorist attack in New York to enter the U.S., and said he would keep pushing to end the diversity visa program.
"The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based," Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. "We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends."
Trump also cited a Fox News report that also blamed Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, for "helping to import Europes problems" with a relaxed immigration system.
The suspect in Tuesday's attack, Sayfullo Saipov, is a 29-year-old man who legally immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan, and reports Tuesday night said he entered the U.S. in 2010 through the diversity visa program. He allegedly rented a van from a Home Depot in New Jersey hours before driving into Manhattan, where he drove into bikers in a private path.
Following the attack Tuesday, Trump tweeted that the Islamic State was not welcome in the U.S. and changed his Twitter cover photo to an image of the New York skyline.
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01.21.2025