During the event, the only real objection to Trump’s “animal” statement was the apparent unfairness to animals. As far as I know, no animals purposely torture, prey, and seek maximum shock value the way MS-13 does. This gang, with its ISIS-like tactics, is the most violent and reprehensible crime organization to ever operate in the United States. For example, last year 15-year-old Nisa Mickens and 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas were found dead near a Long Island playground. Their murders with bats and machetes were so gruesome that they were barely recognizable. Their “crime” was allegedly disrespecting local MS-13 members on social media. Kayla’s mother Evelyn Rodriguez participated in the roundtable and was also the president’s personal guest at his last State of the Union address.

Predictably, critics of this administration cry racism and portend that targeting MS-13 somehow represents a dog-whistle appeal to anti-Latino sentiments. In point of fact, the exact opposite is true. Why? Because most often the victims of this monstrous gang are themselves Hispanic Americans. Sadly, Kayla Cuevas is only one of many Hispanic young Americans slaughtered. For example, the funeral of slain Long Island 16-year-old Justin Llivicura was packed with mourners from his family’s Ecuadoran community. Far from targeting Hispanics, Trump takes bold action to protect our communities!