Donald Trump further demonized migrants on Friday, promising that his potential return to the White House would mark the ''liberation'' of an ''occupied America,'' in stark contrast to his rival Kamala Harris and her outreach to centrist voters.

''Today, America is known worldwide as occupied America. We are occupied by a criminal force,'' the Republican billionaire declared to an enthusiastic crowd in Colorado. ''November 5, the date of the presidential election, will be the day of America's liberation,'' he added, amid cheers.

The 78-year-old orator chose his setting for a speech almost entirely focused on immigration, aimed at hammering home his promise of ''mass deportations.'' For instance, Aurora, a small town in the American West that he has falsely portrayed for weeks as a city where undocumented migrants have ''taken power.''

Kamala Harris is a ''criminal'' who ''imported an army of illegal foreign gang members and criminal migrants from the dungeons of the third world,'' he stated. ''Here, we have the most glaring example.''

Aurora made headlines this summer due to a video repeatedly circulated by the Trumpist sphere, showing armed Latin Americans forcing their way into apartments.

It has since been presented by Trump and his allies as a ''war zone,'' much to the dismay of the city's mayor, Mike Coffman, a Republican himself.

The local elected official has repeatedly pointed out that a handful of incidents have been exaggerated. This week, he stated that ''concerns about the activity of Venezuelan gangs have been largely exaggerated'' and that ''Aurora is a very safe city.''

However, this does not prevent Donald Trump from asserting that the massive arrivals at the border under the Biden-Harris administration have caused a wave of crime in the United States — a claim that no official statistics support.

''Enemy from within''

On Friday, Trump raised the threat of an ''enemy from within.'' In September, he had echoed false claims that Haitian migrants were eating dogs and cats in Ohio.

At a rally in Nevada on Friday evening, a state where casinos closed during the pandemic, he sprinkled his message with economic arguments, recalling his proposal to exempt tips from taxes.

But he did not shy away from his strategy. Political strategists ''say the most important thing is the economy and inflation, and the second most important thing is the border and immigration. I believe it might be the opposite,'' he remarked.

In contrast, Kamala Harris is betting that the election will be won by swaying some moderates to her side. At a rally in Arizona, the vice president continued her offensive towards Republicans who are reluctant to support the former president.

She promised to appoint a minister from their party in the event of victory and to create a mixed council at the White House, comprising both Democrats and Republicans, on which to rely. ''I like good ideas no matter where they come from !'' she declared.

Harris remains neck and neck in the polls with her rival, particularly in the seven key states that will determine the election. To better engage these 'swing states,' but also to mobilize male voters, where Donald Trump is more popular, the vice president is using heavyweight figures from her party.

Barack Obama will soon be in Arizona and Nevada. On Thursday in Pennsylvania, the Democratic icon criticized his ''brothers'' who are tempted by Donald Trump, confusing machismo with strength and disliking ''the idea of having a woman in the presidency.''

Harris increasing interviews

Another former Democratic president, Bill Clinton, will campaign for the vice president in Georgia. Harris, who has so far targeted the middle class in her campaign, has been increasing her interviews in recent days. On Friday, she also appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine, a fashion institution.

The vice president is set to visit North Carolina this weekend and then Pennsylvania on Monday. Donald Trump will be in Arizona on Sunday, another 'swing state.' Beyond the pivotal states, the former president also wants to appear in Democratic territory, for honor. He will be seen on Saturday in California at Coachella, a locality known for its music festival, before a rally at the most iconic venue in New York, Madison Square Garden, at the end of October.