Ahead of Arizona Visit, Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric All But Confirms A Return to Family Separation

TUCSON, AZ – As Donald Trump heads to Tucson, he and his campaign refuse to answer a question that is critical to Arizona families: will he willfully separate families via mass deportations in a new administration? Recent waffling from Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance and policy advisor Stephen Miller, a key architect of the 2018 zero tolerance policy that separated over 5,000 children from their parents, indicate a deliberate effort to sidestep the true consequences of their cruel immigration agenda. Despite their continued evasion, the Trump campaign’s endless vitriol against immigrants on the campaign trail, in political advertisements, and most recently on the debate stage, all but confirm a revival of the deeply unpopular practice (58% oppose).

“Even if he refuses to say it out loud, Trump’s hateful anti-immigrant crusade makes it crystal clear: a return to the cruelty of family separation is on the horizon if he wins. The truth is, the GOP is hiding their true agenda in plain sight, using millions of dollars in anti-immigrant ads and a vast right-wing media network to spread dehumanizing narratives about hard-working communities,” said Beatriz Lopez, Deputy Director of the Immigration Hub.

“These narratives aren’t just divisive—they’re deliberately crafted to stoke fear and pave the way for cruel, inhumane policies like mass deportations. This rhetoric creates an environment that condones violence against Black and brown communities, putting countless American families at risk of being torn apart. While voters overwhelmingly reject these dangerous proposals in favor of a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, it’s imperative that Democrats respond forcefully to this threat and that the media continue to hold Trump accountable for his dangerous agenda.”

GOP spending on immigration-related ads continues to dwarf Democrats’ spending five to one in key battleground states. These ads, marked by inflammatory language and fear-mongering, have been viewed billions of times and falsely paint immigrants as threats. However, new AdImpact data commissioned by the Immigration Hub show Democrats have recently increased their ad spending on the issue by 300% in August, reflecting a strategic shift in response to the GOP’s aggressive campaign, as featured in The New York Times and Newsweek. 

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.