Trump calls Indian-origin police officer killed in US "American hero"

Calling Ronil Singh, the Indian-origin police officer who was shot dead by an “illegal alien” an “American hero,” US president Donald Trump once again pushed Democrats to fund his long-promised wall along the Mexican border to stop illegal migrants from entering the country.

"America's heart broke the day after Christmas when a young police officer in California was savagely murdered in cold blood by an illegal alien (who) just came across the border. The life of an American hero was stolen by someone who had no right to be in our country," Trump said.

Singh, 33, of the Newman Police Department in Stanislaus County, was shot and killed during a traffic stop on December 26 by an illegal immigrant from Mexico. California police officials have arrested Gustavo Perez Arriaga on charges of killing Singh, a native of Fiji who joined the police force in July 2011.

Making a case for strengthening security and building a wall along the US-Mexico border, Trump highlighted multiple examples where American lives were allegedly cut short due to crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

"In California, an air force veteran was raped, murdered, and beaten to death with a hammer by an illegal alien with a long criminal history. In Georgia an illegal alien was recently charged with murder for killing, beheading and dismembering his neighbour.

"In Maryland, MS-13 gang members who arrived in the United States as unaccompanied minors were arrested and charged last year after viciously stabbing and beating a 16-year-old," he said.

The president also said that he has had meeting with dozens of families whose loved ones were killed by illegal immigration.

"I've held the hands of the weeping mothers and embraced the grief-stricken fathers. So sad. So terrible. I will never forget the pain in their eyes, the tremble in their voices and the sadness gripping there. So how much more American blood must we shed before Congress does its job," he said.

"This is a choice between right and wrong; justice and injustice. This is about whether we fulfil our sacred duty to the American citizens we serve," Trump said.