WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to President Trump’s Oval Office address this evening, the following is a statement from Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:
“Tonight President Trump used fear over facts to manufacture a national security ‘crisis’ to justify his demands for a border wall when America’s southwest border has never been more secure. If there is a ‘crisis’ at our border, it’s a humanitarian one that demands smart, comprehensive solutions, not physical barriers that are more symbol than security.
“The real national security crisis is the mounting strain on TSA agents, Border patrol officers and other federal workers who keep our nation safe. The president and Congress must prioritize ending this shutdown above all else by finding a compromise with strong bipartisan support.
“Such a compromise is clear: Couple practical border solutions with permanent status for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients. Neither federal employees nor DACA and TPS recipients, who contribute to the security and prosperity of our nation every day, should live in limbo any longer.”