'They're Eating Pet Dogs, Cats': Trump's Claim On Immigrants Fact-Checked In Presidential Debate, Harris Sneers

During the first presidential debate with Kamala Harris on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump made a controversial claim that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been eating pets.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs — the people that came in — they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country,” Trump said, contradicting the Springfield city manager, who said such accusations had no basis in fact.

‘Extreme’ Claim

Notably, moderator David Muir pointed out that the city manager of Springfield has stated there is no evidence to support this claim. Trump responded by citing anecdotal reports he had seen on television, claiming people had said their pets were taken for food. Kamala Harris dismissed Trump’s remarks as “extreme.”  Earlier, Springfield officials had confirmed to BBC Verify that there have been “no credible reports” of such incidents.

During the heated exchange, Harris defended her immigration record against criticisms from former President Donald Trump and his allies. The US vice president also highlighted her tenure as California attorney general, where she successfully prosecuted gangs involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking.

Border Crisis

Harris accused Trump of exacerbating the border crisis by killing a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at tougher asylum standards and increased border security. She also criticised Trump for failing to follow through on his promises regarding immigration reform, asserting that he “talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk.”

Trump, on the other hand, vowed to launch the largest domestic deportation effort in U.S. history, which could include detention camps and National Guard involvement. He pledged to reinstate policies from his first term, such as the Remain in Mexico program and Title 42, which limited migrant entry on public health grounds.

Trump also proposed expanding the travel ban to include additional countries and suggested implementing “ideological screening” to prevent immigrants with extremist views from entering the U.S. He called for ending birthright citizenship for children born in the US to undocumented parents.