US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to close the nation’s Mexican border or large sections of it next week, a potentially drastic step affecting both nations’ economies, if Mexico does not halt illegal immigration at once. “It could mean all trade” with Mexico,” Trump said when questioned by reporters in Florida. “We will close it for a long time. I am not kidding around.” Trump has previously threatened to close the border – including at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Thursday night – but this time was different as he gave a timetable. Artist vows to ‘Make America Grate Again’, with border cheese wall The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether his possible action would apply to commercial and air travel, but a substantial closure could have an especially heavy impact on cross-border communities and both nations. The DEMOCRATS have given us the weakest immigration laws anywhere in the World. Mexico has the strongest, & they make more than $100 Billion a year on the U.S. Therefore, CONGRESS MUST CHANGE OUR WEAK IMMIGRATION LAWS NOW, & Mexico must stop illegals from entering the U.S.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019 <!--//--><![CDATA[// ><!-- //--><!]]> “If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week,” Trump said in a tweet. “This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and ‘talk.’” Forget the Mexico border, new US military budget is focused on China A senior Homeland Security official on Friday suggested Trump was referring to the ongoing surge of mostly Central American families crossing the border from Mexico, though many of those families request asylum under US law. ....through their country and our Southern Border. Mexico has for many years made a fortune off of the U.S., far greater than Border Costs. If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States throug our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019 <!--//--><![CDATA[// ><!-- //--><!]]> Those seeking asylum are not deemed illegal simply by their arrival. The official said the US might close designated ports of entry to re-deploy staff to help process parents and children. Pentagon chief gets first-hand look at US-Mexico border Ports of entry are official crossing points that are used by residents and commercial vehicles. The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, did not specify which ports the administration was considering closing, but said only that closures were “on the table.” ....the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and “talk.” Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019 <!--//--><![CDATA[// ><!-- //--><!]]> Democratic and Republican lawmakers have fought over whether there actually is a “crisis” at the border, particularly amid Trump’s push for a border wall, which he claims will solve immigration problems. Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said Thursday the immigration system is cracking under the strain. California ‘to pull state troops from Mexico border’ in riposte to Trump The president called on Congress to immediately change what he said were weak US immigration laws, which he blamed on Democrats. Arrests all along the southern border have skyrocketed in recent months. Border agents are on track to make 100,000 arrests and denials of entry there this month, more than half of them families with children. To manage the crush, US Customs and Border Protection is reassigning 750 border inspectors from their usual duties at the ports of entry to help Border Patrol keep pace with arrivals in between ports of entry. The head of the agency held a press conference in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday to say the breaking point had arrived.