US President Donald Trump, without evidence, says Arizona is ‘bracing’ for surge of immigrants
- The president again called for Democrats to back funding for border wall
US President Donald Trump said without evidence on Thursday Arizona “is bracing for a massive surge” of immigrants along a portion of the US southern border that does not have a protective fence, reiterating his call for Democrats to back funding for his proposed border wall.
“Arizona, together with our Military and Border Patrol, is bracing for a massive surge at a NON-WALLED area. WE WILL NOT LET THEM THROUGH,” Trump wrote in a post on Twitter, appearing to maintain pressure on lawmakers seeking to approve legislation to keep the government open through to September 30 next year.
Representatives for the White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon did not respond immediately to requests for comments.
The US Congress approved a stopgap two-week spending bill on Thursday but lawmakers still need to agree on a longer-term funding measure to fund government agencies until the end of the financial year in September.
Trump, who has made the construction of the wall a foundation of his presidency, has demanded US$5 billion this year from Congress for the boundary and has threatened to shut down the government if lawmakers do not accede.
Democrats have argued the wall would be ineffective at ending illegal migration and stemming the flow of illicit drugs across the border.
