Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has visited the Texas-Mexico border in his bid for the Republican nomination.
The billionaire businessman repeated his vow to build a wall between the two countries to stem the flow of migrants trying to cross into the US illegally.
Trump was due to be hosted by the Laredo branch of the border patrol agency, but they pulled out at the last minute.
He claimed that they had been "silenced by their superiors in Washington who do not want people to know how bad it is on the border".
Trump had enraged many by declaring that many of the migrants who crossed into America were rapists and criminals.
The flamboyant entrepreneur arrived on his private plane, wearing a hat emblazoned with his campaign slogan "Make America Great Again".
Some onlookers cheered as he descended the steps to his waiting car but others brandished placards saying "Trump is a chump".
In a convoy of black SUVs with police outriders, Mr Trump was whisked from the airport to the World Trade Bridge - one of the main crossing points for road traffic across the Rio Grande - and then to a short town hall meeting with local enforcement agents before heading back to New York.
During the visit, he told reporters: "We have a tremendous danger on the border with the illegals coming in."
However, he insisted he was "in love" with the Latino community.
"I employ thousands and thousands of Hispanics. I love the people. They're great workers. They're fantastic people and they want legal immigration."
(Sky News)