Trump says ‘100%’ ready to shut down Mexico border
Published: 03 April 2019, 3:15:15
If Mexico does not stop migrants from transiting across its territory, and if Congress does not act, he said, “the border’s going to be closed, 100 percent.”
“Sure it’s going to have a negative impact on the economy,” he said. “Security is more important to me than trade.”
Trump said Democrats were blocking reforms for political reasons but could fix the problem “in 45 minutes.”
He was not specific, but Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has asked Congress to give border officials the power to forcibly repatriate Central American illegal immigrants, including children who arrived alone, back to their countries.
The threat to close the border, which handled some $612 billion worth of trade in 2018, sent shivers through the economy, and drew warnings from allies of the president.
