Trump enlists the families of victims killed by illegal immigrants to endorse his controversial message - as protesters calling him a racist gather outside

• Property magnate turned 2016 hopeful met with families in Los Angeles
• Says he is the only candidate willing to take on 'cunning' Mexican leaders
• Claims his comments about Mexicans were taken out of context
• Believes he will win the Hispanic vote because he will 'create jobs' 

By Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published: 07:51 EST, 11 July 2015 | Updated: 11:50 EST, 13 July 2015

Donald Trump held a news conference with families of people killed by illegal immigrants to defend his controversial stance on Mexico.

The publicity stunt played out in a Los Angeles hotel on Friday - as protesters raged outside screaming 'Dump Trump!' and 'racista!'

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Jamiel Shaw Sr., the father of a high school student killed by an undocumented immigrant, will introduce Trump at his rally today in Phoenix. 

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Donald Trump told victims' families he will tackle Mexico's 'cunning leaders' to fight illegal immigration

Lupe Moreno (in pink) was among those grieving for a family member killed by illegal immigrants. Each person Trump brought forward had a placard featuring their loved one's name and photograph

The magnate turned presidential candidate insists he will get the Hispanic vote by creating jobs

He told the news conference it was 'political suicide' to discuss immigration and he was the only one doing it

The conference came after Univision, NBC and Macy's cut ties with Trump over his Mexico comments

On Friday Trump introduced grieving relatives and declared: 'People came into the country illegally and killed their children. The illegals come in and the illegals kill their children.

'Whenever somebody hears that it was an illegal that was involved with the death of their children, it becomes politically incorrect for a politician to help them. That's how messed up our nation is.'

Supporting him, the victims' families told reporters Trump is starting an important conversation.

'No one really listened to us, our story really wasn't heard,' said Sabine Durden, whose 30-year-old son was killed by a driver who was an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala three years ago. 

'When I heard Mr Trump, I started screaming. Finally, someone who had the guts to say what millions are thinking.'

The fightback by the Republican presidential hopeful comes after NBC, Univision and Macy's cut ties with him over his slew of tweets slamming Mexicans who cross the border. 

Trump also told the group he is the only candidate with the courage to take on the 'cunning leaders' across the border.

His words about Mexicans were taken out of context, he said, adding that, really, he likes Mexico and Mexicans.

Astonishingly, he added that he believes he will win more Hispanic votes than his rivals, including Democrat Hillary Clinton, because he 'will create jobs... and nobody else will.' 

As he spoke, swarms of people surrounded the hotel with signs and even a Trump pinata - though Trump supporters soon arrived to stage a march of their own.  

Trump meets with families victimized by illegal immigrants

On Friday the tycoon claimed the networks had 'chickened out' because of the public outcry

He said it is 'widely known' that he has many Mexican friends and business partners 

Trump triggered a firestorm when, announcing his White House bid last month, he said Mexico was 'sending people that have lots of problems... They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists.'

Spanish-language broadcaster Univision, NBC and Macy's have all cut business ties with Trump, who also stars in his reality television show The Apprentice. 

On Friday the tycoon claimed they had 'chickened out' because of the public outcry. 

But he insisted he had only been talking about immigrants in the United States illegally, not legal migrants, and said he was also not about Mexicans or Mexico itself, but about their leaders.

'Everybody knows that I have great relationships with Mexican people. I have many, many people who work for me who are Mexican. They're phenomenal people. I love them. They're enormously talented. I have great respect for the country of Mexico,' he said.

But he added: 'The problem is the country of Mexico has leaders that are far smarter than our leaders, far more cunning than our leaders.

Crowds of anti-Trump protesters swarmed outside the Luxe Hotel as the tycoon met with families

A car branded with the words 'Dump Trump' druves past an anti-Trump rally in California, which has the highest number of Mexican immigrants

Hitting back: Trump supporters tried to drown out the protesters by staging a march of their own

'Trump speaks for U.S.': People who believe Trump is tackling immigration head-on stood among the fray

Protestors in Washington DC urge voters to 'Dump Trump'

'Their negotiators are much better than our negotiators. And they're sending people to our country that we don't want but we take, and they don't want. And you know who they're sending.'

Trump insisted that the furor over his remarks would not harm his prospects at the polls.

'When it's all said and done I will win the Hispanic vote over the Democrat, whoever it may be, probably Hillary Clinton, because I will create jobs for the Hispanics, and nobody else will,' he said.

'I'll take jobs from China and all these other countries... You have no idea how many calls I'm getting, emails, Twitter, from people, from Mexico, saying "Mr Trump you're right, you're right.'''

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