Close the Border and Open the Government, Not Vice Versa

On Saturday, President Trump unveiled a proposal to open the government on the basis of a compromise with Democrats opposed to his plan for securing our southern border.

In exchange for the $5.9 billion in funding that he correctly insists is needed to close key, unfenced stretches of our frontier with Mexico, he’s effectively offering amnesty for large numbers of illegal aliens already here.

Top Democrats have dismissed the President’s proposal out of hand.  They insist on keeping the government closed in order to keep the border open.  As usual, they have it exactly backwards.

Unfortunately, some congressional Republicans seem prepared to open the government, grant some sort of amnesty and keep the border open. That would be a magnet for still more illegal aliens to come here – and an intensified crisis for public health and safety and the national security.