President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump leave the White House en route to Bedminster, N.J., on July 27, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)
President Donald Trump threatened on July 29 to shut down the government unless Democrats in Congress approve a package of immigration reforms that includes funding for the border wall.
“I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
“Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!”
Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrumpI would be willing to “shut down” government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!The previous omnibus spending bill signed by Trump in March included only $1.6 billion in funds for a border wall, far short of the $25 billion Trump requested for his signature campaign promise. To add insult to injury, the bill prohibited the use of the $1.6 billion for the type of wall Trump wants to build.
In an earlier tweet on July 29, the president blasted the existing immigration laws and said that some illegal aliens are using children for “sinister purposes.”
“Please understand, there are consequences when people cross our Border illegally, whether they have children or not – and many are just using children for their own sinister purposes,” Trump said. “Congress must act on fixing the DUMBEST & WORST immigration laws anywhere in the world! Vote ‘R’.”
Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrumpPlease understand, there are consequences when people cross our Border illegally, whether they have children or not – and many are just using children for their own sinister purposes. Congress must act on fixing the DUMBEST & WORST immigration laws anywhere in the world! Vote “R”
Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) told ABC on July 29 that Republicans will work to keep the government open and improve immigration policies.
“I think we’re going to make sure we keep the government open, but we’re going to get better policies on immigration,” Stiver told “This Week.”
“The president wants us to have policies that work for America and work for Americans, and I think that’s what we are going to move forward with.”
A bill currently in the House of Representatives includes $5 billion for the border wall, but it will require Democratic votes to pass in the Senate.
More than 50 percent of Americans support Trump’s plan for a border wall, found a CBS poll (pdf) conducted in June.
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