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Donald Trump has stated he will shut down the southern border with Mexico and cut off aid to all Central American countries if the Democrats do not agree to fund his border wall.
On Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, Trump tweeted: “We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve!”
About 380,000 federal employees are on unpaid leave due to the partial government shut down due to wall funding. Another 420,000 federal employees have been working without pay during the holiday season.
Acting Chief Of Staff, Mick Mulvaney told reporters that it is the only way the president can get the Democrats’ attention is by threatening to shut down the border.
Mulvaney told Fox News the president canceled his New Year’s Eve plans at Mar-a-Lago to stay in Washington in case there would be negotiations.
Mulvany also added that discussions have broken down and that America could be in this for the long haul.
In addition to the wall, the president threatened to stop aid to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador because they are the source of the migrant caravans. Trump also tweeted about a new Caravan that is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it so the U.S. will be cutting off all aid to these countries.
The effect of shutting the border and migration is unclear. The government must consider requests by migrants who are claiming political asylum despite border closures.
Congress met on Thursday for a short period of time with no success. Republicans refused to take a vote to reopen the government. They plan to meet again on Monday, Dec. 31.
The Democrats take control of the House on Jan. 3, 2019. It appears there will be no deal by the time that happens. With another holiday weekend coming it does not appear that anything will be done until the new year. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, stated she will pass legislation to re-open the government immediately.
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., who is the incoming chairman of the Rules Committee stated that if the Republicans cannot open the government before Jan. 3, then the Democrats will.
Democrats offered $1.3 billion for border fencing, but not a wall. Republicans also agreed with this compromise. Once Trump stated he would not accept anything but his demands, Republicans now say they will not vote on anything unless they know Trump would agree.
Pelosi mocked Trump stating that it is a manhood thing. She made this comment in response to his strong and obsessive desire for wall funding.
In October, Trump made a similar threat about closing the southern border to stop a caravan of migrants. He demanded that the Latin American government stop them from entering.
Earlier this month the United States entered into a collaboration with Mexico. The U.S. would contribute $10.6 billion dollars to help fund a program to stop migration from Central America. The funds will be taken from existing aid programs.
Trump has promised since his campaign days that Mexico would pay for the wall. However, the Mexican president’s response made it clear he will not fund the construction.
Written by Barbara Sobel
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
BBC News: Trump threatens to shut down Mexican border in demand for wall funding
Washington Post: Trump threatens to shut down southern border as government funding stalemate drags on
New York Times: Trump Threatens to Close Border If Congress Won’t Fund Wall
ABC News: Trump threatens to ‘close Southern Border’ if Dems don’t fund border wall
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr – Creative Commons License