Members bring immigrants to the galleries to counter Trump’s message of an immigration crackdown.
Audience members look on during President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. ANDREW CABALLERO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
In his first official remarks to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump forcefully focused on a major campaign promise -- immigration reform and border control.
"We must restore integrity and a rule of law at our borders." Trump said.
Trump brought family members of California Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver and Det. Michael Davis, who were killed by an illegal immigrant, to the House chamber. He told Oliver's daughter that she has "the love of an entire country supporting you."
"As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens," he said.
Trump announced the creation of a new Department of Homeland Security office named Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement, or VOICE.
"We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media and silenced by special interests," Trump said.
The president's strong rhetoric on immigration, which had been expected, was the reason that Democrats had invited as their guests in the balconies dozens of immigrants, many of whom benefit from Obama-era policies like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.
Oscar Juarez-Luna, invited by Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., received a two-year permit to avoid deportation under DACA, which provides the reprieve for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
"I'm undocumented and unafraid," Juarez-Luna said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
"Donald Trump needs to see the diversity, needs to see the policies that directly impact our communities and we want to show the face of the immigration system that is broken and that is outdated and needs to be fixed."
In his first official remarks to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump forcefully focused on a major campaign promise -- immigration reform and border control.
"We must restore integrity and a rule of law at our borders." Trump said.
Trump brought family members of California Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver and Det. Michael Davis, who were killed by an illegal immigrant, to the House chamber. He told Oliver's daughter that she has "the love of an entire country supporting you."
"As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens," he said.
Trump announced the creation of a new Department of Homeland Security office named Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement, or VOICE.
"We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media and silenced by special interests," Trump said.
The president's strong rhetoric on immigration, which had been expected, was the reason that Democrats had invited as their guests in the balconies dozens of immigrants, many of whom benefit from Obama-era policies like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.
Oscar Juarez-Luna, invited by Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., received a two-year permit to avoid deportation under DACA, which provides the reprieve for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
"I'm undocumented and unafraid," Juarez-Luna said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
"Donald Trump needs to see the diversity, needs to see the policies that directly impact our communities and we want to show the face of the immigration system that is broken and that is outdated and needs to be fixed."
