Page 3 - AT

A3
U.S. NEWS Monday 14 January 2019

Continued from Front Trump ultimately go that down, which the Dems can
"If we can't at the end of route, would almost cer- easily fix as soon as they
three weeks, all bets are tainly be challenged in the come back to Washing-
off." courts. ton!" Trump said in a sepa-
"See if he can do it by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., rate tweet.
himself through the emer- called Graham's idea to The White House has been
gency powers. That's my reopen the government a laying the groundwork for
recommendation," added "great place to start." an emergency declara-
Graham, who has publicly "I do think if we reopen the tion, feared by members of
pushed Trump to use his government, if the presi- both parties.
authority to declare a na- dent ends this shutdown Senate Homeland Secu-
tional emergency to build crisis, we have folks who rity Committee Chairman
the wall. Such a step would can negotiate a respon- Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said
allow Trump to bypass Con- sible, modern investment in he would "hate to see" a
gress and tap various pots technology that will actu- declaration because then In this Jan. 10, 2019, photo, the Capitol Dome is seen through a
of unspent federal money, ally make us safer," Coons the wall wouldn't get built, skylight in the Capitol Visitors Center in Washington.
including for military con- said. presumably because of le- Associated Press
struction and disaster relief Trump has maintained that gal challenges. Democrats
and from asset seized by the border cannot be se- voted in the past for border said. "I want to keep pres- ported in the past."
law enforcement, to pay cured without a wall. security and should again, sure on Democrats to actu- But Graham, who favors a
for the wall. Graham said he thinks he said. ally come to the negotiat- presidential declaration,
Trump has kept Washing- Trump is willing to accept "I actually want to see this ing table in good faith and said the time for talk is run-
ton on edge over whether the $5.7 billion he has in- wall get built," Johnson fund what they have sup- ning out.q
he would resort to such a sisted on for the wall, along
declaration, citing what with some immigration
he says is a "crisis" of drug measures Democrats might
smuggling and the traffick- find acceptable, such as
ing of women and children helping immigrants who
at the border. The president were illegally brought to
initially sounded as though the U.S. as children.
such a move was immi- Trump has expressed inter-
nent, but then pulled back. est in a broader immigra-
He has said several times tion overhaul, but says he
since he first mentioned the first wants the Supreme
idea in public earlier this Court to address the class
month that he prefers to try of immigrants known as
to reach a deal with Con- "Dreamers." Pelosi also has
gress. shown no interest in ac-
A key question is how cepting a wall — she has
much more time is Trump called it an "immorality" —
willing to give lawmakers. in exchange for immigra-
Graham, who said he and tion fixes.
Trump talked by telephone And, Trump, who was holed
on Sunday morning, said up in the White House as
the legislative path "is just snow blanketed Washing-
about shut off" and blamed ton on Sunday, appeared
Pelosi. to shoot down Graham's
The speaker's office had no suggestion of a "wall plus"
immediate comment. deal, saying on Twitter that
Democrats oppose an even Democrats don't
emergency declaration want to make "Dreamers"
but may be powerless to part of the negotiations.
block it. Some Republicans "The damage done to our
are wary, too, fearing how Country from a badly bro-
a future Democratic presi- ken Border - Drugs, Crime
dent might use that author- and so much that is bad
ity. Such a move, should - is far greater than a Shut-