Victims of Immigrant Violence Speak Out: “Build the Wall!”

Media coverage of the first night of the GOP convention was centered on Donald Trump’s dramatic entrance, accusations of plagiarism, and the iron-fisted destruction of the NeverTrump movement, but there was little talk of the evening’s most emotional moment. On a night celebrating the theme of “Make America Safe Again,” three parents who lost loved ones to illegal immigrants took the stage to thank Trump for spotlighting a national crisis.

“My son’s life was stolen at the hands of an illegal alien,” said Mary Ann Mendoza. “It’s time we had an administration that cares more about Americans than illegals. A vote for Hillary is putting all of our children’s lives at risk.”

Another parent – Sabine Durden – told the crowd that her son Dominic was killed by an illegal immigrant with a long history of driving infractions. “A criminal illegal alien turned his car in front of him riding to work and killed him instantly,” said Durden. “He was given a misdemeanor and served just 35 days in jail.”

Finally, Jamiel Shaw spoke of his son, who was gunned down by an illegal immigrant in 2012. “One minute I’m hearing my son’s voice – ‘Be right home, old man, I’m just around the corner’ – next minute gunshots and my Jaz was dead.”

Shaw said that Trump was the only politician willing to do something about the lawlessness surrounding the country’s immigration policies. “Only Trump will stand against terrorists and end illegal immigration,” Shaw said. “Build the wall!”

Lost within the day-to-day chatter are the real Americans affected by the ongoing tragedy of the Obama administration. It’s all well and good to oppose illegal immigration as a concept, but these survivors are living with the horrendous aftermath of a liberal ideology that has erased our borders. To them, this isn’t about numbers and statistics; they see a very clear picture of the results.

Isn’t it interesting that the media chose to ignore these families? Shaw and Durden and Mendoza don’t exactly further the narrative, do they? It takes some of the sting out of the “Trump is a racist” story when you see how illegal immigration has affected the lives of good Americans, some of whom are (legal) immigrants themselves. Hard to make this all about xenophobia when you have parents grieving the death of their children.