O’Rourke rips Trump’s border wall in video: ‘A symbol of division’
Outgoing Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) on Friday released a 48-second video ripping President Trump’s demand for a border wall.
O’Rourke’s video, posted on Twitter, listed negative consequences from constructing a wall, asserting it would block access to the Rio Grande River, lead to land seizures through eminent domain, make land inaccessible between the Rio Grande and the wall and seal off wildlife corridors.
“The southern border already has over 600 miles of wall and fence. And since 2007, the undocumented population has grown more through visa overstays than unauthorized border crossings. We need realistic immigration reform, not a symbol of division,” the video concludes.
— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) December 28, 2018
O’Rourke emerged as a vocal critic to Trump during his Senate bid this year, even suggesting that he would vote to impeach the president if such a motion came to the House floor.{mosads}
His insurgent campaign to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sparked speculation that the Texas Democrat could make for a potential 2020 challenger to Trump.
O’Rourke’s supporters point to his 3-point defeat in the ruby red state and his ability to energize the Democratic base and rake in a record amount of contributions.
His video released Friday comes as lawmakers continue to remain at odds over funding for Trump’s border wall in a deal to reopen large swaths of the federal government.
The wall continues to be the focal point of negotiations between Capitol Hill and the White House as the partial government shutdown enters its seventh day.
Democrats and Republicans have yet to come to an agreement on the president’s demand for $5 billion in border wall funding as part of any legislation to reopen the government.
The shutdown is likely to carry on into the new year after House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s (R-La.) office announced Thursday that no votes would be taken this week in the House.
The shutdown has resulted in the furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal employees, affecting agencies including the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, Interior, State, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
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