Trump Says He Will Shut the Border if Mexico Doesn’t Remove Migrants

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Last updated on March 5th, 2019 at 11:54 am

On Monday morning President Donald Trump threatened to close off the U.S. border “permanently if need be” as a way to keep what he calls an “invasion” of migrant refugees from entering the United States. He also demanded that the government of Mexico remove the caravans of asylum-seeking migrants who have been camping out in Tijuana, and trying to cross the U.S. border.

Trump told Mexico that so long as they removed the migrant asylum seekers they could do it “anyway you want.”

“Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A.,” Trump tweeted, offering no evidence to support his claim that the migrants are criminals.

Over the weekend complete chaos broke out at the U.S.-Mexico border near Tijuana. U.S. border control officers sent tear gas canisters raining on the penniless migrants who rushed to the U.S. border, attempting to seek asylum there. One of the busiest border crossings the San Ysidro port of entry, was completely shut down on Sunday.

When hundreds of migrants rushed the border, this prompted Mexico’s Interior Ministry to pledge that they would increase border security. They said that they had arrested nearly 40 refugees who “violently” attempted to breach the border.

The Trump administration reportedly reached a tentative deal on the asylum seekers over the weekend with the administration of incoming Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. This deal, which was not confirmed, would keep the asylum seekers within Mexico while their asylum claims would be processed in the United States.

Historically, asylum seekers have been allowed to remain in the U.S. during the time that they have to wait for their claims to be decided.

Trump has said that the migrants are criminals despite the complete lack of evidence to support his claims.

Also on Monday the president once again asked Congress to provide money for his proposed wall along the southern border. He has said that without a funding commitment for the border wall he may have to shut down the U.S. government when funding runs out next week.

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Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.