Trump’s impossible ultimatum

Donald Trump has warned he will close the southern US border within days if Mexico doesn’t immediately stop “all illegal immigration” to the country.

In a series of tweets on Friday, the US president threatened swift action, which would see him

Mr Trump said he would be “closing the border, or large sections of the Border, next week” if Mexico doesn’t “stop illegals from entering the US … throug (sic) our Southern Border”.

“This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and ‘talk’,” he continued.

“Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.”

Mr Trump said that closing off border crossings, key avenues for trade with a major partner, “would be a good thing!”

State of the Nation 2019: Low wages, high costs and a shaky property market. The future for Australia is uncertain. Tell us what's important to you >

Mr Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a top political priority but has previously threatened on multiple occasions to close border crossings without following through. He suggested closing it ahead of last year’s midterm elections, during the December government shutdown, and earlier this week when he accused Central American governments of squandering American aid. But he hasn’t put a timeline on the threat until now.

The rhetoric has previously sparked concerns about economic damage from closing points of entry with a vital trading partner.

The threat came one day after Mr Trump appeared at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he described immigration as an “invasion” and referred to the plight of asylum seekers as a “big fat con job.”

The DEMOCRATS have given us the weakest immigration laws anywhere in the World. Mexico has the strongest, & they make more than $100 Billion a year on the U.S. Therefore, CONGRESS MUST CHANGE OUR WEAK IMMIGRATION LAWS NOW, & Mexico must stop illegals from entering the U.S....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019

Democratic and Republican politicians have fought over whether there actually is a “crisis” at the border, particularly amid Mr Trump’s push for a border wall, which he claims will solve immigration problems. Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said Thursday the immigration system was cracking under the strain.

The president called on Congress to immediately change what he said were weak US immigration laws, which he blamed on Democrats.

Arrests all along the southern border have skyrocketed in recent months. Border agents are on track to make 100,000 arrests and denials of entry there this month, more than half of them families with children.

To manage the crush, US Customs and Border Protection is reassigning 750 border inspectors from their usual duties at the ports of entry to help Border Patrol keep pace with arrivals in between ports of entry. US Customs and Border Protection commissioner Kevin McAleenan on Wednesday said “the breaking point” had arrived and his agency was “reluctantly” releasing migrants because of overcrowding at detention facilities.

....through their country and our Southern Border. Mexico has for many years made a fortune off of the U.S., far greater than Border Costs. If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States throug our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019

....the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and “talk.” Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2019