The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has released the following statements from Knox Williams, senior fellow for American Justice and Leigh Ann O’Neill, chief legal affairs officer, in response to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recently filed lawsuit against the District of Columbia’s attempted “assault rifle” and suppressor ban.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The America First Policy Institute’s (AFPI) Hispanic Leadership Coalition (HLC) hosted a roundtable event, “Protecting our Communities and Saving Lives: A Hispanic Leadership Forum on Immigration Enforcement and Border Security,” bringing together national leaders, policy experts, and advocates to examine how the Trump administration is working to restore order to the nation’s immigration system, enhance public safety, and safeguard the lives of migrants following the lawlessness and humanitarian crisis at the border under the previous administration.
The event was part of AFPI’s America First Roundtable Series and emphasized that the administration’s deportation efforts primarily target individuals involved in criminal activity and are carried out in a professional and humane way. The discussion also underscored that strengthening border security is the most effective way to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis left by the previous administration, as it discourages migrants from attempting dangerous journeys that regularly involve risks of death, violence, or exploitation.
Led by Alfonso Aguilar, AFPI Director of Hispanic Engagement and former Chief of the U.S. Office of Citizenship, he was joined by featured special guests:
The Honorable Victor Avila, White House Deputy Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy
Bob Unanue, AFPI Chairman, HLC
The Honorable Michael Garcia, AFPI Chair, California Chapter, and Former U.S. Representative
Angie Morfin, Angel Mom
The Honorable Emilio González, Former Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, AFPI Senior Fellow
Below are select quotes from today’s event:
Victor Avila
“We’re trending in the right direction because we’re actually now paying attention to the mess that was created over the last four years and working to fix it. And it cannot be fixed in one day or two days, but you see the last year and the trajectory where it’s headed is a very positive one.”
Alfonso Aguilar
“Critics on the Left claim that the administration’s immigration policies are cruel and overly harsh. These assertions are simply not true. In reality, it was the situation during the previous administration that was not humane.”
“The Trump administration is just addressing the complex and serious migration crisis created by the Biden Administration’s border policies and is working to manage it in a way that is effective, lawful, and humane.”
Michael Garcia,
“There is nothing more inhumane than allowing illegal immigration to continue. I once saw a five-year-old girl walking hand in hand with her two-year-old brother, entirely unaccompanied by any adults, as they crossed the border. There was no one there to protect them. They had been alone for days. No one was waiting for them on this side. And yet some would have us continue to allow and encourage this? It defies common sense.”
California mother and grandmother Angie Morfin after sharing an emotional testimony about the death of her son Ruben Morfin at the hands of an illegal alien gang member:
“I thank President Trump. He’s done so much for the Angel Moms.”
Emilio González
“The previous administration destroyed our legal immigration system. They destroyed it.”
“You break it down: It was a crisis of the economy. It was a crisis on the border. It was a fentanyl crisis. It was a human trafficking crisis. It was a fraudulent identity crisis.”
AFPI’s HLC remains committed to advancing policies that restore order at the border, support law enforcement, combat the fentanyl crisis, and ensure Hispanic voices are central to the national conversation on immigration and public safety.
Securing our borders, defeating the cartels, and restoring law and order is an America First priority. Learn more here.
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