Trump rails against immigrants at rally in hotly contested Pennsylvania

Donald Trump railed against illegal immigrants in the country in an often-graphic speech in Pennsylvania on Sept 29, his fourth campaign stop in a month in what has become the presidential campaign's most hotly contested state.

The Republican presidential candidate called some categories of immigrants “vicious” over 10 times during his nearly two-hour address in Erie, and described several violent incidents.

While there is no nationwide data on crimes committed specifically by undocumented immigrants, research shows they do not commit crimes at a higher rate than people born in the US.

His speech was short of new policy details and the ferocity of his rhetoric suggests he is focused mainly on driving core supporters to vote, rather than winning over middle-of-the-road voters, ahead of Election Day on Nov 5.

Trump believes immigration is a winning campaign issue, and he has, at times, said he believes immigration weighs on voters' minds more than other major topics, such as the economy.

“They call them of the worst order,” he said of immigrants who had committed violent crimes. “Charged with or convicted with heinous crimes, including child predators, drug dealers, vicious gang members, sadist thugs and people that deal in women.”

On multiple times he referenced instances of rape, including child rape. At one point, he suggested he would condone a burst of police violence.