Trump threatens to close border, saying Mexico ‘all talk and no action’ on immigration

President Trump on Thursday renewed his threat to close off the southern border in a tweet also attacking Mexico and Democrats over immigration.

Trump said Mexico is “all talk and no action” in its efforts to stop a flow of migrants into the U.S. and said Democrats “don’t care.” 

“Likewise, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have taken our money for years, and do Nothing,” he added. “The Dems don’t care, such BAD laws. May close the Southern Border!”

Mexico is doing NOTHING to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our Country. They are all talk and no action. Likewise, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have taken our money for years, and do Nothing. The Dems don’t care, such BAD laws. May close the Southern Border!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019

{mosads}The tweet comes after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said Wednesday that immigration enforcement has reached a “breaking point.”

“For the first time in over a decade, CBP is performing direct releases of migrants when [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is unable to provide bed space to relieve overcrowding,” McAleenan said. 

The comments came as the number of migrant families seeking asylum at the southern border has increased in recent months.

McAleenan added Wednesday that the influx is leading to overcrowding in CBP facilities, which he said is resulting in illnesses among migrants.

“We are doing everything we can to simply avoid a tragedy in a CBP facility,” he said. “But with these numbers, with the types of illnesses we’re seeing at the border, I fear that it’s just a matter of time.”

Trump’s suggestion Thursday that he “may close” off the southern border is not the first time he has made that threat. He threatened in November and in December of last year to do the same. 

“If we find that it gets to a level where we’re going to lose control or people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control,” he said on Thanksgiving.