Trump claims the White House is allowing illegal immigrants to 'pour' into the U.S. 'so they can go and vote' in November

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Citing a Border Patrol union leader, Donald Trump said Friday that agents have been told to allow immigrants into the United States illegally 'so they can vote in the election.'

In an immigration roundtable with Trump, National Border Patrol Council Vice President Art Del Cueto told the Republican presidential nominee that officials in the U.S. are being directed to ignore criminal histories of immigrants and instead speed up citizenship applications from a long backlogged waiting list.

'That's a massive story,' Trump responded, saying it would be ignored by the media. 'They are letting people pour into the country so they can go ahead and vote.'

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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke with Art Del Cueto during a meeting with members of the National Border Patrol Council at Trump Tower

The talk about border security involved leaders of the National Border Patrol Council, a union that represents Border Patrol agents who are on the front lines in America's immigration fight

U.S. Border Patrol agents work on the U.S. side of the border with Mexico, apprehending illegal immigrants and trying to stem the flow of drugs and other contraband

Cueto is also president of his union local, #2544, in Tucson, Arizona, which endorsed Trump in March – long before he became his party's nominee. 

'Mr. Trump is the only candidate that has publicly expressed his support of our mission and our agents,' Cueto said at the time. 'He has been an outspoken candidate on the need for a secure border and for this we are grateful.'

Union spokesman Shawn Moran, who was in New York with Del Cueto on Friday, told Associated Press that several issues were conflated during the exchange with Trump.

Border Patrol agents have indeed seen an increase in attempts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, Moran said. 

But he did not claim any agents had been ordered to let those immigrants in so they could vote in November.

THE CONVERSATION: DONALD TRUMP TALKS WITH BORDER PATROL UNION OFFICIAL AT TRUMP TOWER

National Border Patrol Council Vice President Art Del Cueto: 'I spoke to several agents in my sector who are in charge of processing. And the problem that we're seeing reflected through us as a voice is that some of these individuals that were apprehended with criminal records, they're not – they're checking their records, they're noticing that they have criminal records – but they're setting them aside because at this point they are saying immigration is so tied up with trying to get the people that are on the waiting list – hurry up and get them their immigration status corrected. Make them citizens.'

Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump: 'Why? Why does it –?'

Del Cueto: 'So they can go ahead and vote before the election. And for us to do that–'

Trump (to reporters): 'Big statement, fellas. I mean, I'm sure you're not going to write it. To me that's – 

Del Cueto: 'That's huge.'

Trump: 'They're letting people pour into the country so they can go and vote.'

Del Cueto: 'They want to hurry up and fast track them so they can go ahead and be able to vote for the election.'

Trump: 'And these are the professionals. These are the people who are on the border. You hear a thing like that, and it's a disgrace. Well, it will be a lot different if I get elected.'

The two issues are sometimes linked in a misleading fashion, and the brief exchange between Del Cueto and Trump underscored that. 

At the same time, a previously secret internal report from the Department of Homeland Security, leaked to reporters on Friday, shows that the U.S. only apprehends about 54 per cent of illegal border-jumpers.

That's a far lower figure than the 81 per cent that DHS claims on its website, a number generated by data-skewing and creating counting.

Newly admitted immigrants are not permitted to vote, a right that is reserved for citizens. The process of achieving citizenship takes years. Citizenship applications are handled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, not the Border Patrol.

There is also no evidence that USCIS officials have been directed to quickly approve citizenship applications, though some lawmakers have asked the agency to address such reports.

Trump has repeatedly said he fears the election will be rigged and has made a hard-line stance on immigration a centerpiece of his campaign. 

His latest provocative claim comes as Trump and Clinton are preparing for their second debate, a town-hall style confrontation Sunday night. 

An election cutout of Trump hangs in an freight elevator inside Trump Tower in New York City, where Friday's meetings were held on the 25th floor

U.S. immigration authorities caught barely half the people who illegally entered the country from Mexico last year, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security report

It's a critical moment for Trump, who after a rough performance in last week's debate is tasked with showing he can stick to his campaign message and steer clear of comments likely to alienate moderate voters.

Trump and Clinton have been treading somewhat lightly on the campaign trail in recent days, as Hurricane Matthew barreled down on swing state Florida.

The pause was a reminder of the possibilities and perils of campaigning during a crisis. 

Plenty of presidents and presidential hopefuls before them have used similar natural disasters to showcase their leadership – or their shortcomings – in ways that can change the trajectory of the race. Both Clinton and Trump appeared to be moving carefully, for now.

The campaigns spent Thursday moving staff and volunteers, closing offices and canceling events in the path of the storm, as many Floridians heeded calls to evacuate. In Florida, the Clinton campaign pulled its ads from the Weather Channel, amid criticism about insensitivity, and the Trump team pulled its negative TV ads. 

Trump, who is trying to recapture momentum lost in a rocky first debate, practiced his skills in public Thursday night at a town hall in Sandown, New Hampshire. Although his aides called the event a dry run for Sunday, Trump dismissed the notion.

'I said, 'Forget debate prep.' I mean, give me a break,' said Trump, who mocked Clinton for spending days preparing. 'She's resting. She wants to build up her energy for Sunday night. And you know what? That's fine. But the narrative is so foolish.'