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At Border, Donald Trump Declares 'I'll Win the Hispanic Vote'

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks after arriving at the airport for a visit to the U.S. Mexico border in Laredo, Texas, on July 23, 2015. Trump is touring the border area to highlight his concerns about immigration policies. — Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks after arriving at the airport for a visit to the U.S. Mexico border in Laredo, Texas, on July 23, 2015. Trump is touring the border area to highlight his concerns about immigration policies.
Photographer: LM Otero/AP Photo

By

Lauren Etter

July 23, 2015, 8:09 PM UTCUpdated onJuly 23, 2015, 9:07 PM UTC

After being shunned by the union that represents the federal Border Patrol, Donald Trump said he would strengthen frontier defenses by increasing the presence of troops and fortifying the wall that separates the U.S. from Mexico.

Speaking in Laredo, Texas, the 69-year-old billionaire real estate developer, reality-television host and Republican presidential frontrunner said he was confident that he would take the nomination. He said he would win over Latino voters even after describing undocumented Mexican immigrants as criminals, setting off a firestorm of criticism.