Trump again threatens to close Mexico border
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump again threatened on Wednesday to close the US border with Mexico, this time calling on Congress to take steps immediately to deal with immigration and security loopholes that he says are creating a national emergency.
“Congress must get together and immediately eliminate the loopholes at the Border!” Trump wrote in a Twitter post. “If no action, Border, or large sections of Border, will close. This is a National Emergency!”
Trump has repeatedly threatened to close the border to stem what he calls a tide of illegal immigration. On Friday, he said he would close the border this week unless Mexico took steps to stop illegal migration.
The threat drew an outcry from business leaders and others, who said the move could disrupt legal crossings and billions of dollars in trade. The US Chamber of Commerce, the largest US business lobbying group, said it contacted the White House to discuss the negative impact of a border closure.
Trump took a step back on Tuesday, saying action by Mexico in recent days had eased pressure on US ports of entry. But he revived the closure warning on Wednesday, in a bid to pressure Congress to act.
White House adviser Mercedes Schlapp said on Wednesday that progress is being made with Mexico on immigration issues, but she declined to comment on whether the border would be closed this week.
“Our resources are being stretched thin. The system is overwhelmed,” she told reporters at the White House. “We are seeing our border patrol commissioner make it very clear that we are at a breaking point.”
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday there were no “serious problems” at the US-Mexico border after commercial traffic slowed at several crossings.
Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard is in constant communication with US authorities to avoid conflict and to keep the border open, Lopez Obrador told reporters at his regular morning news conference. “It’s not in anyone’s interest to close the border,” he said. Trump has threatened to close the US southern border to fight illegal immigration, despite pressure from companies worried that a shutdown would hurt supply chains and $1.7 billion in daily trade.
A transfer of US border agents to immigration duties has slowed commercial traffic at three crossings, with gridlock in El Paso extending for hours.
US Customs and Border Protection said on Tuesday it would suspend cargo operations every Saturday at one of its crossing points in El Paso until it has enough staff to operate fully, Mexican media reported.