Donald Trump threatens to shut down US government unless Democrats vote to build his wall
House Republicans released a spending bill this month that provides US$5 billion next year to build Trump’s promised wall
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he’d be willing to shut down the government if Democrats refuse to vote for changes he seeks to the US immigration system, including building a wall along the US-Mexico border.
“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 tweeted. “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!” Trump said.
Trump campaigned on the promise of building a border wall to deter illegal immigration. Congress has given him some funding but not as much as he has requested. Trump also wants changes to legal immigration, including scrapping a visa lottery programme. In addition, he wants to end the practice of releasing immigrants caught entering the country illegally on the condition that they show up for court hearings.
Trump has also demanded that the US shift to an immigration system that is based more on merit and less on family ties.