Trump Seizes Upon Prison Escape Of Mexico's Most Powerful Drug Lord To Bolster Immigration Stance
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is using the escape of Mexico's most notorious drug kingpin to bolster his arguments about illegal immigration.
Joaquin Guzman, known as "El Chapo," escaped from Altiplano, the country's only maximum security prison Saturday, and is still on the run.
Guzman is the boss of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. Recently unsealed indictments revealed the cartel imported cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and other drugs into Mexico, and then smuggled them into San Diego.
The breach was a major embarrassment for the Mexican government, especially given this the second time El Chapo managed to escape from a maximum-security prison. The first time was in 2001.
This time, he reportedly used a mile-long escape tunnel that led to a small house. The tunnel started below the shower inside the kingpin's prison cell. It was complete with ventilation, lighting, even a rail system.
Trump seized upon the escape to drive home his views on illegal immigration and the Mexican government. He tweeted Sunday, "Unbelievable corruption and USA is paying the price. I told you so!"
Mexico's biggest drug lord escapes from jail. Unbelievable corruption and USA is paying the price. I told you so!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2015
After the shooting death of a San Francisco woman on Pier 14, Trump renewed his pledge to secure U.S. borders because the suspect was an undocumented Mexican national.
The GOP candidate has taken a lot of heat for his views on immigration. Several companies including Macy's, NBC and Univision severed ties with the real estate mogul after his presidential campaign kickoff speech last month in which he declared that some Mexican immigrants bring drugs and crime to the U.S., and are rapists.
A spokesman for Trump later told CNN, he was referring to the Mexican government, not Latinos.
Meantime, investigators are still trying to figure out who helped El Chapo escape.
So far, at least 30 guards have been interrogated.
"When you have the most notorious trafficker in Mexico escape right under your nose, it's quite a surprise to everyone," said DEA agent Gilbert Gonzalez.
Author, Don Winslow has been following El Chapo's career for many hears and created a fictional version of him in "The Power of the Dog."
"There is an intimidation factor with these guards. He has had prison guards killed; he can threaten their families," said Winslow.
