President Trump, on Tuesday January 8th, presented a speech about border security, immigration, and the Democratic response. He delivered his speech on the 18th day of the government shutdown.

President Trump started out his speech by addressing that there is a growing humanitarian and security crisis at the southern border. Trump stated, “Every day, Customs and Border Protection agents encounter thousands of illegal immigrants trying to enter our country. We are out of space to hold them, and we have no way to promptly return them back home to their country. America welcomes millions of lawful immigrants who enrich the society and contribute to the nation, but all Americans are hurt by uncontrolled illegal migration.” Trump also said that because of this it strains public resources and jobs and wages start to decline.

He also brought up that the border is easy access for distributing illegal drugs including meth, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. “Every week,  300 of our citizens are killed by heroin alone, 90% of  which cascades across from our southern border. More Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War.”

Trump, in his speech, told the nation that his administration has presented Congress with a detailed proposal to secure the border and stop the criminal gangs, drug smugglers, and human traffickers. The proposal from Homeland Security includes cutting-edge technology for detecting drugs, weapons, illegal contraband, etc. Trump has also requested more agents, immigration judges, and bed space to process the sharp rise in unlawful migration.

An overall approach to border security, law enforcement professionals have requested $5.7 billion for a physical barrier. At the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier rather than a concrete wall. Trump attacked the Democrats by stating, “Democrats in Congress have refused to acknowledge the crisis and they have refused to provide our bright brave border agents with the tools they desperately need to protect our families and our nation. The federal government remains shut down for one reason and one reason only because Democrats will not fund border security.”