Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has once again come in for a barrage of criticism as a result of his comments about immigration into the United States. This time, Trump has latched onto the tragic murder of tourist Kate Steinle who was shot and killed Wednesday at Pier 14 in San Francisco. Trump used the announcement of his presidential campaign to brand Mexican immigrants as “Criminals, drug runners and rapists.” Trump’s comments have been widely criticized as xenophobic and have led to his being dropped by NBC and Nascar amongst others.

On the day America celebrates its independence, Trump has once again hit the headlines. On this occasion, Trump has used the murder of Kate Steinle to call, once again, for tighter border controls. Trump has gone so far as to call for the U.S. to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to prevent illegal immigrants crossing the border. Trump took to Twitter to say that a wall was needed and that he is “the only candidate who would build it.”

"@RoniSeale: The American people deserve a wall to protect our jobs, economy and our safety. I am the only candidate who would build it." — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2015

Trump also said in a statement that Kate Steinle’s killing was a “senseless and totally preventable act of violence” and was “yet another example of why we must secure our border.”

“Nobody else has the guts to even talk about it. The American people deserve a wall.”

Whilst Trumps comments have been widely criticized, the billionaire businessman has at least one high profile supporter. Senator Ted Cruz, another presidential hopeful, has spoken out to defend Trump. Cruz made his comments in an interview due to be broadcast tomorrow.

“I salute Donald Trump for focusing on the need to address illegal immigration. When it comes to Donald Trump, I like Donald Trump. I think he’s terrific.”

Up to now, it seems that Trump’s comments have hurt him more commercially than politically as the Guardian reports that “Comcast Corp’s NBC network cut ties with Trump and the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and Spanish-language network Univision pulled the July 12 Miss USA pageant.” Department store Macy’s has said it will phase out it’s Trump menswear collection and the city of New York is reviewing development contracts with Trump.

On the day that the U.S. celebrated its independence, many will believe that Trump and Cruz have forgotten the foundations that the nation was built upon.

The inscription on the Statue of Liberty says “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

What do Inquisitr readers think of Trump’s comments? Are they justified or are they unfounded and divisive?

[Photo by Christopher Gregory/Getty Images]