Supporters of former President Trump in New York speaking to Fox News Digital outside a rally in Uniondale, New York, calling for his return to the White House told Fox News Digital that immigration and crime were their biggest concerns before November.
Former President Trump returned to the heavily Democratic state he has long called home for a rally on Long Island on Wednesday, just days after the second assassination attempt on him.
“The No. 1 issue for me is illegal immigration. I accept immigration, but I don't accept illegal immigration,” Mary Beth O'Hare told Fox News Digital outside the Nassau Coliseum. “Our city in particular is overrun with illegal immigration, and if you're not already paying the price, you're going to pay the price. We're seeing the price in our community.”
“I think it's also unfair to the immigrants. I think they're told that they're going to have great things when they come here, but when you actually talk to them, you find out they're not happy either. So overall, it's an unfair situation.”
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“I think New York needs a revival. In fact, I just sold my house and we're thinking about leaving because we don't feel safe or secure here,” O'Hare added, “and it's become so expensive that it's not possible for my family to start a family here and continue the traditions that we started.”
“I think it's time to figure out why the cost of living here is so high and make it more affordable for young people.”
“First of all, the border is open. I've seen Manhattan in particular being overwhelmed with illegal immigrants traveling overnight on big jets and landing in our city. We're seeing that in New York. And it's not good,” Amy Hesse told Fox News Digital. “Trump is a New Yorker. It's his home. And he's going to rebuild New York City and New York state. Go Trump in 2024.”
Tom, another Trump supporter, said immigration is one of the big issues facing New York state and predicted that Trump would be campaigning not to win for himself but to rally support for Republican lawmakers.
Trump supporters wait outside the Nassau Coliseum ahead of the Republican presidential candidate's rally, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Uniondale, New York. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)
“It's important for Republicans to keep the House of Representatives, that moderate districts like Long Island and the Hudson Valley remain in Republican hands,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I think this is an opportunity to get some publicity that he can bring together crowds like this in heavily Democratic areas of New York to celebrate this day in a peaceful, patriotic and joyous way.”
“I'm the son of immigrants. I'm proud to be the son of immigrants. And I believe that if you come to this country legally and want to achieve the American dream, you'll be welcomed,” Tom added.
“But that's not what's happening right now. We have so many illegal immigrants in this country, and I don't even need to say this in New York. We have so many illegal immigrants in this country that our infrastructure is strained. We don't have the money to properly educate these people. We don't have the money to properly house these people. Right now, 25 percent of hotel rooms in New York City are occupied by immigrants.
“We're paying for this instead of using this money to educate our own children, even in inner cities where extra money for education is desperately needed. Instead, we're welcoming these people but we don't have anywhere to accommodate them.”
Outside the rally, a man wearing a shirt that read “Jews Support Trump” said he wanted to dispel the misconception that most Jews would vote for Kamala Harris, especially after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.
“You look around you and you see crime going up. Cars are being vandalized. Homes are being vandalized. People are hesitant to buy homes now, just because they're afraid they'll be vandalized. It's not like it was under Trump. There was less crime. The economy is better. Everything is better. There were no complaints. What we're complaining about is crime is skyrocketing. And the economy. We're paying too much for everything now. Vote Trump.”
Former President Trump holds a rally in Uniondale, New York, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
He said the government is housing many immigrants in his neighborhood in Queens.
“I'm worried about my wife and children because of it,” he said. “Because there's crime. We don't know who these immigrants are. Sure, some of them may be good people, but we don't know. Nobody is screening them. They just come in. We don't know anything about them.”
“New York needs to change. You know, New York used to be so prosperous. New York was the center of the whole world when it came to finance. But now it's like everyone's leaving New York. The policies are terrible,” Nick Passino, a member of a group of Trump supporters who call themselves the MAGA Boys, told Fox News Digital.
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Passino said he and his friend, Devin Dashnow, were in the front row at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when the July 13 assassination attempt occurred.
Passino said their group supported Trump at his subsequent rally in Michigan. Trump continues to schedule public rallies after another assassination attempt while he was golfing in West Palm Beach, Fla., last weekend. Passino said Trump has made the statement that he is “willing to do anything for the American people.”
“A few days ago, they tried to remove him, and now he's rallying in New York. He's just doing what he always does,” Passino told Fox News Digital. “He's not scared. He's going to carry on. And, you know, MAGA. No matter what, MAGA is going to live on.”
People arrive at the Nassau Coliseum before the start of a rally for former President Donald Trump, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Uniondale, New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
As for Kamala Harris, “she has no policies, she has nothing to talk about, so she always goes back to the way things were done when she was growing up,” Passino said.
“Kamala, nobody cares how you grew up. What are you going to do now?” he said. “I mean, we already know what you're going to do when you get in office: destroy the economy, open the borders. Nothing's going to change. It's only going to get worse.”
Matt, another Trump supporter, told Fox News Digital that immigration is the most important issue influencing his vote because he personally knows someone who has died from a fentanyl overdose.
“Not just as a New Yorker, but as an American citizen,” Matt said, making it clear that he is against illegal immigration. “They're illegal immigrants for a reason. I mean, they can get a job, but do they pay the taxes that everyone else pays? There are reports that they were able to vote in some areas. So this is America First.”
Regarding Trump still holding rallies, Matt said, “He's a billionaire. He doesn't have to be here. He can get on a yacht or a cruise ship and go wherever he wants. But he's fighting for us. So it means the world to everybody here.”
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Esther Rivera, who was waving a “Latinos Support Trump” sign outside the rally, told Fox News Digital: “Immigration is not the problem. Illegal immigration is the problem.”
“Just because there's a wall doesn't mean you can't come in. Knock on the door first. Enter legally,” she said.
