Trump Uses Graphic Video of Attack to Promote Immigration Policies

Sun Apr 12 2026 07:18:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President Donald Trump shared a disturbing video of a deadly attack allegedly perpetrated by a Haitian immigrant, using it to justify his administration's mass deportation agenda. The incident raises questions about the portrayal of immigrants in the U.S.

Following a violent incident in Florida where a Haitian immigrant was arrested for killing a woman, President Trump posted a video of the act on social media, calling for stricter immigration policies. Critics argue that Trump misrepresents immigrants as criminals, undermining studies that suggest otherwise. The victim, a Bangladeshi immigrant, was remembered fondly by her community as a devoted mother, while discussions around the implications of temporary protected status continue.

MIAMI (AP) — President Donald Trump shared a video of a deadly attack allegedly by a Haitian immigrant accused of bludgeoning a woman with a hammer at a Florida gas station, portraying the killing as justification for his administration's mass deportation agenda.

Rolbert Joachin, 40, was arrested and charged with killing a woman on April 2 in Fort Myers, about 160 miles northwest of Miami. Authorities said the man was from Haiti and arrived in the U.S. in 2022. The woman who was killed was identified as a 51-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh and a mother of two adult daughters.

Trump, who posted the video late Thursday to his Truth Social account, has often sought to portray immigrants as bringing crime to the U.S., and the video emerging from the Florida attack presented him with a new, particularly graphic opportunity to do so. Trump also often paints Democrats and his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, as allowing in immigrants who posed a criminal or national security threat to the U.S.

“The video of her brutal slaying is one of the most vicious things you will ever see,” Trump said in his post, describing the man as an “animal.”

Critics say the president unjustly paints all immigrants as criminals in an effort to bolster his immigration agenda, when studies have found that people living in the U.S. illegally are less likely than native-born Americans to have been arrested for violent, drug and property crimes.

“Our hearts are with the family of the victim during this unimaginably painful time,” said Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance. “We condemn this act of violence in the strongest possible terms. But we must also be clear: one individual’s actions do not define an entire people.”

The graphic video depicted the altercation, as Joachin attacked the victim, identified as Nilufa Easmın. Security footage showed Joachin delivering multiple blows with a hammer before walking away. Easmin was a dedicated mother who had recently moved to Florida.

Trump’s administration has been critical of temporary protections for immigrants, highlighting Joachin's earlier arrest and his recent status. Discussions surrounding immigration policy and protections for individuals from conflict regions continue to ignite debate, especially as legal battles unfold regarding temporary protected status.