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Watch live: Trump 'salutes' immigration officers

By UPI Staff
President Donald Trump congratulates U.S. Border Patrol agent Adrian Anzaldua during an event honoring the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency Monday at the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 3 | President Donald Trump congratulates U.S. Border Patrol agent Adrian Anzaldua during an event honoring the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency Monday at the White House in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 20 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump defended immigration and border patrol agencies Monday afternoon at a White House event honoring their work.

The president gave his support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Patrol despite increasing criticisms against the agencies and the Trump administration's immigration policies.

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"We will not stand for the vile smears, the hateful attacks and the vicious assaults on the courageous men and women of ICE, Border Patrol and law enforcement," Trump said during the "Salute to the Heroes" event.

In attendance were Vice President Mike Pence, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan and some 150 ICE officers and CBP agents.

ICE has been under increased scrutiny in recent months after the Trump administration ordered 100 percent prosecution of all illegal border crossings and the separation of children from adults facing prosecution. Some 2,500 children were removed from their parents and the federal government said it reunited about 2,000 after a court order.

Last week, a federal judge ordered a temporary halt to deporting families who'd been separated under the "zero tolerance" policy.

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