Report: Trump companies hire foreign workers
Donald Trump, who leads Republican presidential polls in part by pledging to be a jobs creator, now finds his own hiring practices under scrutiny.
Although Trump has made protection of American jobs a major campaign plank, Reuters reported that companies he owns frequently bring in workers from other countries.
"Trump owns companies that have sought to import at least 1,100 foreign workers on temporary visas since 2000," Reuters reported, citing data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Just recently, the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago Club resort in Florida applied to the Labor Department to import 70 foreign workers to serve as cooks, waiters and cleaners, Reuters said.
The story came less than a week before the first Republican debate set for Thursday in Cleveland.
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During his June announcement speech, Trump proclaimed, "I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created."
The New York-based businessman enters the debate leading a series of GOP preference polls, ahead of Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and about a dozen other Republicans.
In his first political campaign, Trump has made illegal immigration a major focus. His harsh criticism of migrants and his claims that Mexico is sending rapists, drug dealers and other criminals across the U.S. border have earned him rebukes from opponents.
Trump has also criticized government-approved trade deals, saying they are shipping jobs overseas.
In his announcement speech, Trump said, "I'll bring back our jobs from China, from Mexico, from Japan, from so many places. I'll bring back our jobs, and I'll bring back our money."