Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pledged the removal of illegals who have committed crimes and a secure border on day one of the incoming Trump administration.
Cruz made the comments in a speech at Turning Point Action's America Fest in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday.
"Starting on January 20, we will secure the border. Catch and release ends on January 20. If you are an illegal alien, if you're a murderer, if you're a rapist, if you're a child molester, if you're a Venezuelan gang member, pack your bags because you're getting the hell out," Cruz said in the speech that aired in part on Newsmax and the free Newsmax2 streaming platform.
"And I'm here to tell you, that's not going to take a year. It's not going to take six months. We are going to see the numbers of illegal immigration plummet, and they are going to plummet in January and February of this year," Cruz added.
Cruz joined President-elect Donald Trump at his first rally since winning the election.
Incoming border czar Tom Homan, who also spoke at the event, has pledged to first remove violent criminals in the U.S. illegally, including members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
"My gang's bigger than yours. We're going to kick you out of this country!" Homan said Sunday addressing the gang, echoing a statement he made to Newsmax last month.
Aurora, Colorado, police arrested 15 illegals last week that were behind an attack at an apartment complex last month.
"Without question, in my opinion, this is [Tren de Aragua] activity," Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain told reporters. "Our victims were basically subjected to some incredibly inhumane and harsh and unbelievable treatment."
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