Business Groups Call Trump Border Closure Threats Unproductive
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said April 1 that closing the U.S.-Mexico border "would inflict severe economic harm" on the country, and that even threatening closure is damaging. March 29 marked the third time President Donald Trump has threatened to close the border. The first time, it was because of Central American migrants. The second time, it was because he was angry Democrats wouldn't fund a border wall (see 1812280006). This time, again, it's because of Central American migrants. He tweeted, "If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States throug [sic] our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING..... ....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!"
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The Border Trade Alliance also mildly rebuked the president after his latest threat to close the border -- or large sections of it -- with Mexico. The Border Trade Alliance wrote, "Such threats are unhelpful and unproductive, and only spread economic uncertainty and risk lasting economic harm." CBP has tried to manage the surge of Central American families turning themselves in to claim asylum by metering how many can come through at legal ports of entry each day. But if migrants cross the Rio Grande river and end up on U.S. soil, even if it's south of existing fencing, international law requires their asylum claims to be given a hearing.