WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Media baron Rupert Murdoch took issue on Sunday with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's comments that many illegal immigrants from Mexico are bringing crime to the United States, tweeting: "Trump wrong."

Mr Trump, a billionaire real estate mogul, has generated controversy by saying that US immigration policy has allowed criminals from Mexico and other countries to find sanctuary in the United States.

In his June 16 announcement that he was running for president, Mr Trump said many people crossing from Mexico into the United States were criminals and rapists.

Mr Murdoch, whose media holdings include Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, posted on his Twitter account on Sunday that "Mexican immigrants, as with all immigrants, have much lower crime rates than native born.

"Eg El Paso safest city in US Trump wrong," he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump, commenting on the prison escape of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, said in a statement: "Corrupt Mexican officials obviously let him go a second time. The last time he was free for 13 years. He has been selling drugs in the US big time - a major kingpin."

Some Republicans distanced themselves on Sunday from Mr Trump's comments on illegal immigrants, saying he had become "a wrecking ball" for the party's ability to win Hispanic voters.