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If you believe the media it's only a matter of time before Republicans fold followed by Trump. The longer the shutdown lasts, the worse it gets for the Republicans. You have to dig deep to find this.
"If I am getting comments and contact from my constituents expressing concern that the Democrats are not prioritizing security, then I think we can do better,” said freshman Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.)."
"Democrats remain united behind their leadership’s shutdown strategy of refusing to negotiate with Trump on his border wall demand and pressuring Senate Republicans to take up House-passed bills to open up the government. But the first fissures are starting to show."
I went to my dentist's office for a routine cleaning in Nogales, Mexico about 6 weeks ago. I had a leisurely drive down I-19 from Tucson. I parked my car at a parking lot a few blocks from the main border crossing. Everything looked calm as can be. The only unusual thing I saw was US Army military police standing around, while a group of US Army combat engineers were hanging coils of razor wire above the 20 to 25 foot high border wall / fence right near the main border crossing.
I am a former Army combat engineer, so I strolled down the street to chat with them. I asked, how much razor wire are you guys going to put up? I was told, only on top of the wall / fence that was within about a quarter mile in each direction from the main border crossing. My first thought was what a waste, because nobody in their right mind would try to hop the fence right next to the main border crossing gate in Nogales. This razor wire was just for a publicity show. All someone would need to do is go to a more quiet and less patrolled place along the fence, and try to go over the fence there.
I have watched people go over the 20 foot high wall / fence in the outer parts of Nogales, and it usually takes 15 or 20 seconds. They put up a home-made ladder from 2x4 lumber on the Mexico side, with a rope tied to the top rung. They climb the ladder, and shimmy down the rope. The razor wire, if it was strung everywhere, might slow them down for a minute or two, because they would have to bring along some wire cutters. There are plenty of hardware stores in border cities in Mexico, so this is not a big deal.
Anyway, after watching our taxpayer dollars being wasted on razor wire, I strolled across the border to my dentist's office. After a good cleaning, I was glad to know my teeth were in good shape and decided to take a walk around Nogales. I've been there many times, and this time did not seem any different. There were almost no US tourists on the streets, but the shops and eating places looked pretty busy. I stopped at a streetside stand for a few tacos, then a cup of fresh fruit. A bit later, I went to a coffee shop for an expresso. Everyone I spoke to was friendly, and it did not feel repressive or dangerous in any way. Yes, I saw some Mexican federal police with automatic weapons not far from the main border crossing from Mexico to the US, but I saw US military with automatic weapons on the US side. I waited in a line to cross back from Mexico to the US, and everyone was patient and doing nothing more than chatting, using smartphones or reading something. It was no different than a hospital waiting room in the USA. Didn't look like an emergency to me.
Besides, if you haven't noticed, he's faced more hysterical opposition and harassment than any president in history.....so he's probably been a little preoccupied.
Slept through the birther BS, led by none other than the person you perceive to be so maligned, I take it.
DEA? lol All the DEA said that most of their drug bust happens at the legal port of entry....you still have drugs, illegals, and human trafficking coming to the illegal points.
Yes most. And DHS also said that they do not have enough resources at legal ports of entry to properly scan all vehicles.
In the last year you also have tripled rates of apprehensions of illegals on the northern border. Yet when I mention it folks on the right say we should spend money on the south as that is more of a problem. And fair enough. Cost benefit analysis. But if I used your arguement that apprehensions cannot tell us true activity then I can say the north border maybe just as bad or worse. In fact Canada does not require visas from Mexican travelers. hmmm.
So you cant cherry picks stats. And you cant evaluate cost-benefit in one scenario and not another. And I have no seen one done under the Trump admin.
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