Donald Trump faces backlash over 'rambling' speech painting families of murdered Americans as 'real victims' of US migration laws

Donald Trump has faced backlash over a rambling speech painting the families of victims of crime as the “real victims” of US immigration laws .

The President hit back at controversy over migrant children being separated from their families with an address about American families who lost loved ones to “criminal illegal aliens”.

Mr Trump hosted a White House reception for what he described as “angel families” who told stories of being “permanently” separated from their children and siblings.

The President claimed “criminal aliens” were responsible for a higher rate of crime than US citizens as he appeared onstage with 11 so-called “angel families” holding pictures of victims.

He said: “We are gathered today to hear directly from the American victims of illegal immigration.

“These are the American citizens permanently separated from their loved ones.

“The word ‘permanently’ being the word that you have to think about. Permanently – they’re not separated for a day or two days, these are permanently separated because they were killed by criminal illegal aliens.”

He said the families had been “ignored” by the media and added: “They don’t talk about the death and destruction of people that shouldn’t be here who will continue to do bad things.

“I hear you, I see you and I will never let you down. Their loved ones will not die in vain. Your loss will not have been in vain, we will secure our borders. The word will get out, we’re going to have a safe country.”

He dismissed "phony stories of sadness and grief" while asserting the real victims of the nation's immigration crisis are Americans killed by those who cross the border unlawfully.

Citing a 2011 Government Accountability report, the President claimed 25,000 “criminal aliens” had been arrested for homicide, 42,000 for robbery, nearly 70,000 for sex offences and nearly 15,000 for kidnapping.

But the Associated Press reported that the president failed to also mention that nearly a third of the 3 million arrests of the “criminal alien population” were for immigration (529,859) or traffic offences (404,488).

The speech came amid international criticism of his immigration policy that sees children separated from their families and “caged” in US detention centres.

It drew yet more criticism with many branding the speech “disgusting” and “shameless”.

US Bishop Talbert Swan wrote on Twitter: “Propaganda is absolutely sickening Trump! Why are you trying to paint all immigrants at hardened criminals? You are disgusting.”

Another person described the speech as a “shameless photo op.”

One man wrote: “Shame on you using bereaved families this way. You know perfectly well that crime rates among immigrants are much lower than among native born communities.”