Hillary Clinton fires up the Latino voters against Donald Trump
WASHINGTON -- Urging them to turn out and vote in the November election, Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that Latinos must send a message to Donald Trump "with one voice that Latinos are a vital part of the American community."
"We are not strangers," Clinton said, in her remarks to the League of United Latin American Citizens National Convention in Washington, D.C. "You make our nation stronger, smarter, more creative and I want you to know: I see you, I hear you and I am with you."
Clinton reaffirmed her commitment to defend President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration if elected, and pledged to go even further to give more immigrants, especially those with a history of service to their communities, the chance stay in the United States.
The presumptive Democratic nominee has also reiterated her promise to introduce comprehensive immigration reform in her first 100 days in office. She argued that, though the issue of immigration reform was long "hotly contested," the debate is over -- except in "some circles."
"I deeply regret the kind of campaign the presumptive Republican nominee started with and is still running today," she said. "So, part of what we have to be strong in standing for is a credible path forward for reform that is truly comprehensive, addressing all aspects of the system, including immigrants living here today, those who wish to come in the days ahead, from highly skilled workers to family members to those seeking refuge from violence."
She chided Trump for saying that the United States is a "country where we speak English, not Spanish" and for criticizing former presidential candidate Jeb Bush for speaking "Mexican."
"Next week, in Cleveland," she said, referring to the upcoming National Republican Convention, "they will nominate someone who thinks Latino outreach is tweeting a picture of a taco bowl."
And she said that the upcoming election is not just about choosing a president.
"The choice we make will say a lot about who we are and whether we understand and celebrate the diversity of our country, which makes us all the stronger," Clinton said.