Trump doubles down on anti-immigration rhetoric, pledging to use overseas troops at the border

Trump reiterated his hard-line immigrant views in a speech on Sunday -- promising to shift "massive portions" of law enforcement to handle migrants at the border

After facing backlash for saying immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country," former President Donald Trump reiterated his hard-line views in a speech on Sunday -- calling for a "clean up" of the country and, without detailing how, promising to shift "massive portions" of law enforcement to handle migrants at the border, including by recalling soldiers currently stationed overseas.

"We have to clean up our country," Trump said before thousands of supporters gathered at a "commit to caucus" campaign event in Reno, Nevada. "We have to get all the criminals."

At what was his third visit to the state so far this year, Trump dedicated nearly 20 minutes of his 80-minute speech talking about border security and immigration, repeating his frequent and hyperbolic claims that "drug dealers," "gang members," "criminals" and people from mental institutions are "invading" the country.

As he ramps up his third bid for the White House, Trump is again making his opposition to immigration and pledge to militarize the border central to his campaign, at the same time that polling shows the public sharply disapproves of President Joe Biden's handling of the issue.

His speech in Reno was also reflective of his consistently extremist rhetoric about immigrants, which has long drawn vocal outcry.