Dana Nessel criticizes Donald Trump for falsely portraying concern towards domestic violence.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel slams Donald Trump for his purported concern over domestic violence.

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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel denounced former President Donald Trump’s use of 25-year-old Grand Rapids resident Ruby Garcia’s tragic death as a means to promote anti-immigrant policies. During a speech in Grand Rapids, Trump aligned himself with conservative voices in using Garcia’s murder by her undocumented immigrant boyfriend to rally against immigrants.

Nessel and Garcia’s family were outraged by the exploitation of Garcia’s death by right-wing politicians to perpetuate the harmful stereotype that immigrants are dangerous criminals. Trump, who had not originally planned to visit Grand Rapids, seized the opportunity to push his anti-immigration rhetoric. His speech primarily focused on criticizing President Biden’s immigration policies, labeling them as a “border bloodbath.”

Nessel wasted no time in calling out Trump’s hypocrisy and accused him of using Garcia’s death for attention and political gain. She pointed out the ways in which Trump’s policies have led to an increase in domestic violence cases and have made the country less safe for women in abusive situations. Nessel highlighted Trump’s failure to renew the Violence Against Women Act and changes to the definition of domestic violence and sexual assault, limiting essential services for survivors.

In addition, Nessel condemned Trump for appointing extremist judges to federal courts and celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which she argued would harm women who have experienced domestic abuse. She emphasized that victims of domestic violence cannot survive another Trump presidency and called out his lack of genuine concern for Ruby Garcia’s life or death.

Garcia’s sister, Mavi Garcia, expressed frustration with the way Trump and other politicians have used her sister’s death as a political pawn. She stressed that the focus should be on remembering who Ruby was in life and not turning her tragedy into a divisive political issue centered around immigration.

During his speech, Trump falsely claimed to have spoken with Garcia’s family and used words nearly identical to those in her obituary. However, Mavi Garcia clarified that neither Trump nor his campaign had reached out to their family. Trump also inaccurately stated Garcia’s age during his speech.

Trump went on to blame President Biden for Garcia’s murder, alleging that his administration deported the killer, Brandon Ortiz-Vite, but Biden allowed him back into the country. However, reports from the Associated Press raised doubts about when Ortiz-Vite reentered the United States and cited studies showing that immigrants are less likely than American-born citizens to commit violent crimes.

Nessel’s swift response to Trump’s exploitation of Ruby Garcia’s death demonstrates her commitment to advocating for victims of domestic violence and challenging damaging political narratives. By exposing Trump’s track record on domestic violence and his lack of genuine concern for women’s safety, Nessel sends a powerful message about the importance of prioritizing the well-being of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status or political beliefs.

Michigan