Amid growing tensions over immigration and race in the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump is doubling down on racist Tweets he made about Democratic party lawmakers.

Telling U.S. congresswomen of color to “go back” to the “crime-infested places they came from” seems to be a new low from a president who has not shied away from playing the race card before.

….and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019

The rhetoric that many consider openly racist comes as the Trump administration is unveiling plans to make asylum seekers apply for refuge in the U.S. outside of the country.

CGTN’s Nathan King explains.

After his Sunday tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump raised the rhetoric on race again. This time in front of the cameras.

The Congresswomen he is attacking – who are all U.S. citizens, and all but one born in U.S. territory – have been vocal against Trump’s tough immigration laws. Having visited detention centers on the U.S. border with Mexico, they testified at Congressional hearings about inhumane conditions. The congresswomen hit back at Trump Monday.

Trump’s comments come as his administration is doubling down on his tough stance on immigration. Vice President Mike Pence defended the policies Friday, despite witnessing distressing conditions for himself.

Toured the Donna Processing Center with @SecondLady and saw firsthand how even in the face of our overwhelmed facilities, @CBP is providing humane and compassionate care. Congress MUST reform our laws to end this unsustainable crisis of illegal immigration at the border. pic.twitter.com/zQZkJKRGU4

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) July 12, 2019

The White House is issuing a rule that asylum seekers from Central America must register their cases at the first country they arrive in, not the U.S. That rule is set to be challenged and may violate both national and international law. Guatemala announced Sunday that it has shelved plans to comply with such a rule. Mexico, too, is rejecting it.

All this comes while the U.S. has reportedly launched a crackdown on migrants who have been issued deportation orders.

Whether or not this is party politics, the racial language has led to widespread condemnation, including reluctantly from some in Trump’s own party. Immigration and citizenship will be divisive issues in the upcoming elections and beyond.