In our ongoing fact checking of Donald Trump’s immigration speech, we come to a real contradiction in Trump’s attacks on the Obama administration’s dedication to deporting illegal immigrants.

“President Obama and Hillary Clinton have engaged in gross dereliction of duty by surrendering the safety of the American people to open borders,” Trump said last week. “You know it better than anybody right here in Arizona. You know it.”

Firstly, Hillary Clinton had no duty whatsoever as Secretary of State concerning open borders, so she couldn’t really be derelict of them. The State Department is not responsible for the enforcement of immigration policies.

Secondly, the Obama Administration has deported more illegal immigrants than any other administration in history. How that amounts to “dereliction of duty” is anyone’s guess. Donald Trump did not address the matter. The Obama Administration has been dedicated to quickly returning new illegal immigrants and those with criminal backgrounds.

Hillary Clinton has promised to continue the policy of focusing on dangerous criminals for deportation, though softening a stance on a path to citizenship for immigrants that have productively been in the country for long periods. It is not “surrendering the safety of the American people to open borders,” rather it is largely keeping intact the policies of the Obama Administration which, again, have deported more people during his time as President than any other.

Sources:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/sep/01/fact-checking-donald-trumps-immigration-speech-pho/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/10/american-principles-action/has-barack-obama-deported-more-people-any-other-pr/