Trump Says MS-13 Has Transformed Long Island Neighborhoods Into 'Blood-Stained Killing Fields'

BRENTWOOD, NY — President Donald Trump spoke in Brentwood Friday about the insidious MS-13 gang that's been terrorizing local communities across Long Island in the county.

And in his speech, he promised to rid the gang-ravaged communities of Long Island of the "animals" on their streets.

The event began with remarks from Tom Homan, Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who vowed to MS-13, "We will target all of you."

Rep. Peter King told the crowd, "President Trump will always be in your corner. He will always have your back. President Trump knows that Blue Lives do matter."

Trump took the stage to cheers and lauded the police officers before him. "I'm a big, big believer and admirer of the people in law enforcement, and I have been from day one." He thanked police officers, sheriffs, ICE officers and all members of law enforcement.

Air Force One at MacArthur Airport Friday afternoon. (Photo by Brian Thomas)

"Together we're going to restore safety to our streets and peace to our communities. We're going to destroy the vile criminal cartel MS-13," he said.

MS-13, Trump said, are brutally violent. "They don't like shooting people because it's too quick, it's too fast," he said. Instead, they "knife them, cut them, let them die slowly because it's more painful. These guys are animals."

Trump thanked Homan, a "tough cookie." When someone told him Homan looked "mean", Trump said, "That's exactly what I was looking for."

Trump also thanked King and John Kelly, United States Secretary of Homeland Security — and also, Rep. Lee Zeldin. "I'm proud of you. Great job," he said.

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• Trump Endorses Police Brutality During MS-13 Talk On Long Island
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• Watch Trump's Full Speech/Read The Transcript

Of border stats, Trump said numbers are down 78 percent.

"We've nipped it in the bud. Ms-13 has shed gruesome bloodshed throughout the United States. We've gotten some out of here and there rest will be out of here quickly."

Lax border control, "weak political leadership" and police who were unable to do their jobs because of a "pathetic mayor" have sent drugs and violence pouring over the border, Trump said.

"From now on, we're going to enforce our laws, protect our borders and support our police like our police have never been supported before," Trump said.

Long Island has been hit hard, with 17 "beautiful young lives" murdered since Jan. 16 on Long Island alone, he said.

"They butchered those little girls. They kidnap. They extort. They rape and they rob. They prey on children. They shouldn't be here," Trump said.

MS-13 beats with victims with clubs, slashes them with knives and machetes, he said.

"They're animals"

"They have transformed peaceful parks and beautiful, quiet neighborhoods into blood-stained killing fields. They're animals."

One by one, Trump said, the administration is "liberating American towns," something he never expected on sleepy Long Island where he said he grew up; Trump actually grew up in Queens.

"We will restore law and order on Long Island," Trump said. "We will bring justice back to the United States."

Trump said he had a message for every gang member and criminal alien: "We will find you. We will arrest you. We will jail you. And we will deport you."

He lauded ICE officers, who recently conducted the largest crackdown of criminal gangs in U.S. history, with 1,400 suspects apprehended, more than 200 illegal firearms seized, and nearly 600 lbs. of narcotics uncovered.

What's needed

Trump said additional resources are needed from Congress, who, he said, was stepping up to help. ICE, he said, currently has 6,00o officers, not enough, with another 10,000 needed to "eliminate MS-13."

He made a nod to Thursday night's defeat of Obamacare repeal: "We can't have everything. But we'll get it done."

And then he urged police officers, dealing with "thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, 'Please, don't be too nice.'" Talking about how police will often protect the head of a suspect being thrown into a police car, he said, "You can take the hand away, okay?'"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Trump also called for Congress of fund additional federal immigration judges and prosecutors to "dismantle deadly networks" despite "laws horrendously stacked against us for years . . .made to protect the criminal."

Trump vowed to keep the country safe from "radical Islamic terrorism," crack down on sanctuary cities, keep violent criminals from being released back into the community — and to build the border wall and secure borders.

Thursday night, $1.6 billion was approved to begin planning and building the border wall, he said, to stem the tide of drugs, crime and human trafficking.

Unaccompanied minors, 150,000, arrived in the United States three years before he took office, Trump said, and seven have now been indicted for murder in Suffolk County.

"We will defend our country, protect our community and put the safety of the American people first. It's called America First. Make America Great again. This is my promise to each of you," Trump said.

After the event, Zeldin said, "It was an honor to travel with President Trump to our home in Suffolk County to discuss efforts to eradicate MS-13. It has been very welcome relief witnessing the President and his administration take such an active role to address this urgent threat. What has happened on our island shows how local communities can be so deeply impacted by gangs such as MS-13."

He added, "This president’s trip to our home was a sign that we have allies in this fight against evil; however, this is only the beginning. We must send a clear indication that gangs like MS-13 have no place here, and that we will never tolerate gang violence in our communities. It is our obligation to make eradicating this criminal organization a top priority.”

Air Force One touched down in Long Island at 1:24 p.m., according to a White House pool report. POTUS stepped off Air Force One at 1:37 p.m. Trump responded to shouted questions about Thursday night's healthcare vote failure by saying, "It's going to be fine."

The motorcade began rolling at 1:41 p.m., according to the White House pool report.

According to that report, White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller spoke briefly with media about the upcoming event during the flight.

"Our big focus on MS-13 is getting the resources we need to accomplish the mission. What does that mean? It means we need more ICE officers," he said.

Miller also said the message of tolerance toward illegal immigration was the "number one boon to smugglers and traffickers. That permissive approach, we've seen the results of that approach. The results have been deadly and horrific. By sending a message that you won't tolerate illegal immigration, it will shut down the smugglers. You've already seen a huge increase in the price that people have to pay to get smuggled, which in and of itself is an enormous deterrent."

According to the White House Pool report, Miller was asked whether POTUS was moving closer to a decision on DACA:

He said there is currently an ongoing threat of litigation about DACA, and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly is working with the Justice Department in dealing with that.

"I don't have any news to make about it today but I will say our administration, from a policy standpoint, remains resolutely focused on jobs, wages and security for American citizens," he said.

When asked why United States Ambassador to the United Nations was onboard, Miller said, "Obviously the President of the United States, at all times of the day, is working on the many different foreign policy issues facing our country, and I'm sure that they're discussing those on a variety of different fronts."

Asked about the controversial border wall and how the administration planned to secure funding, Miller said, "Obviously we're going to need Congress and both parties to step up and provide these extra resources. If Senate Democrats try to block the funding we need to protect our nation from criminals, drug dealers, cartels and terrorists, it will cause an uproar from the American people, and they will pay a steep political price."

New White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci passed the pool on his way off Air Force One, the report said. When asked for comment, he said, "Come on, that was not fair. You know that was not fair."

Local elected officials were grateful for Trump's help in tackling an issue that's ravaged their community.

"It's an honor to have President Trump visit the Town of Islip to help law enforcement tackle our gang problem," said Islip Councilwoman Trish Bergin-Weichbrodt, who was seated in the first row.

Trump's arrival came on the heels of the president's proposal of a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military — and a speech at the National Scout Jamboree that ignited a public outcry.

Waving signs, protestors gathered for a rally and protest Friday near Suffolk County Community College's Van Nostrand Theatre in Brentwood, where Trump spoke at the Michael J. Grant Campus during White House, invitation-only law enforcement event.

Rep. Peter King confirmed on Thursday that Trump would be speaking Friday to an audience primarily comprising FBI, Homeland Security, and law enforcement representatives — specifically addressing MS-13 in the Central Islip and Brentwood community, which has been ravaged by MS-13 gang activity.

The gruesome discovery in a Central Islip Park this April of four young men believed to have been murdered by MS-13 members has brought an international spotlight to Suffolk County, with elected officials and law enforcement vowing to fight back.

"We are saddened and outraged to see President Trump seek to use local tragedies for political gain"

A "Long Island Community Unity Rally & Protest" was also held at Brentwood Park, across the street from SCCC,

The New York LGBT Network also hosted a protest in Brentwood on after Trump said he would ban transgender individuals from the serving in military.

Zeldin welcomes Trump

Rep. Lee Zeldin traveled with Trump from Washington, D.C. to Suffolk County Friday.

“The rise in gang violence, which is ruining lives, wreaking havoc, and causing irreparable and devastating harm to families, is hitting home in the most personal and tragic way in Suffolk County, where we’ve seen ongoing violence perpetrated by MS-13 and other Central American gangs taking innocent lives and threatening the safety of our schools," Zeldin said.

Also welcoming Trump was Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, who said more than a hundred correction officers and deputy sheriffs are expected to attend Friday’s event in Brentwood.

NYCLU Speaks Out

Others were outraged about Trump's visit: On Thursday, The New York Civil Liberties Union spoke out heatedly about Trump’s planned visit to Suffolk County.

NYCLU Suffolk County Chapter Director Irma Solis said: “Let’s be clear, the real target of President Trump’s dragnet is not criminals, it is immigrants. Despite the pageantry of a presidential visit, our local officials must renew their commitment to our immigrant community, who they serve, rather than acting as an instrument of Trump’s deportation agenda. In particular, when the Suffolk County Police Department does the bidding of immigration enforcement, they push away people the police need and people who need the police.”

The president's visit comes after a large contingent of elected officials have vowed to fight back against the insidious street gang.

“MS-13 is going to be gone from our streets very soon, believe me,” Trump said in May.

MS-13 coverage on Patch:

• MS-13: An Inside Look At The Brutal Gang And Its Insidious Spread On Long Island
• Crackdown Nets 39 MS-13 Arrests In 30 Days
• AG Jeff Sessions Warns Deadly MS-13: 'We Are Targeting You'
• 3 MS-13 Gang Members Reportedly Charged In Brutal Quadruple Homicide In Central Islip
• Feds ID Alleged MS-13 Gang Members Charged In Dozen Long Island Murders
• Guardian Angels Founder Curtis Sliwa Offers Plan To Rein In MS-13
• War Against MS-13 Rages On, Police Chief Discusses Concerns
• Watch Live: Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini Testifying Before Congress On Deadly MS-13 Gang
• 'We Are At War:' Dozens Of MS-13 Gang Members Arrested, Indicted