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'Trump's Immigration Thrust Scaring Immigrants'


A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump takes a picture at a pro-Trump rally near the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. (Reuters)
A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump takes a picture at a pro-Trump rally near the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. (Reuters)

A Zimbabwean citizen living in the United States says he is concerned about the immigration policy that will be outlined at the Republican party’s presidential convention in Ohio, Cleveland.

Blessing Tonderai Mudzinganyama told VOA Studio 7 that he is not happy with presidential nominee Donald Trump’s suggestions that the country should close its borders to some immigrants, including Moslems. He is accusing them of being perpatrators of terrorism and violence.

“As a citizen of Zimbabwe and the United States one of my biggest concerns are around the immigration rhetoric that Trump has been talking about, as of late and we will see what the convention is going to do by giving us a deep insight as to the balance what Mike Pence will bring in, to what Trump has been talking about during the campaign and his lead up to the convention.”

Mudzinganyama said he is likely to attend the convention of Tuesday. The opening theme of the convention is on secutiry and immigration.

“I think the intention behind the idea is noble because of the terrorism that have been taking place … So, the convention may be focusing in greater detail on how he plans to hold all immigrants from coming into the country and while he is also trying to fight and curb terrorism. So, the convention will hopefully shade light on what that policy is going to look like.”

By the end of this week, the Republican Party will have officially nominated Donald Trump as its presidential candidate and presented its opening shot in the general election race that culminates with U.S. voters making their choice on November 8.

Monday's opening day of the party's convention in Cleveland, Ohio is focused on national security and immigration.

Speakers include former Governor of border state Texas Rick Perry, the mother of an American killed in Benghazi, Libya, several immigration reform advocates, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Trump's wife, Melania.

In an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes broadcast Sunday night, Trump answered a question about the state of the world with an answer that is a likely preview of criticisms that will be directed this week at President Barack Obama and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

'We need strength'

"We need strength," Trump said. "Obama's weak, Hillary's weak. And part of it is, a big part of it, we need law and order. We need strong borders."

Trump has proposed building a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border as well as banning Muslims from entering the country. He softened slightly on the Muslim ban in Sunday's interview, suggesting he would focus more on people's country of origin.

"There are territories and terror states and terror nations that we're not gonna allow the people to come into our country. And we're gonna have a thing called "extreme vetting."

Trump has repeatedly said he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq while also pointing to Clinton's vote in the U.S. Senate backing the war. Trump's running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, also voted to support the war while a member of the House of Representatives.

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