President Donald Trump took his fight for a southern border wall to the town of McAllen, Texas on Thursday.

He participated in a roundtable on immigration and border security.

CGTN’s Toby Muse explains.

Sitting in front of stacks of cash, guns and drugs that federal agents said were seized at the border, Trump again tried to make his case for the wall to the American people.

Trump reiterated his threat to declare a national emergency while demanding the Congress provide funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

From the Southern Border…. pic.twitter.com/Vgsf5nEZUH

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2019

The White House said if an emergency is declared, the president can seize money destined for the military and use it to build a barrier.

Democrats question whether the president has the legal authority to seize the military’s funding. They have promised to mount legal challenges in the event he tries.
Trump’s visit to the border comes amid mounting pressure to reopen the government as the partial shutdown approaches its fourth week.

As each day passes, there are more stories about the hardships faced by federal workers and their families who are living without a paycheck. The Coast Guard faced criticism for telling its sailors to consider dog walking, babysitting or holding a garage sale for quick cash. If the dispute isn’t resolved this weekend, this shutdown will become the longest in U.S. history.

Rafael Bernal discusses Trump’s policies at the southern border

CGTN’s Mike Walter spoke to Rafael Bernal for insight into the major issue fueling the partial government shutdown in the U.S.: the southern border. Bernal is a Staff Writer with The Hill and a former, practicing lawyer.