House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) on Wednesday said that the U.S. does not need a concrete barrier at the southern border while echoing calls from other top Democrats to instead invest in a “smart wall.”
In response to a question from Hill.TV’s Jamal Simmons on whether a wall is needed on the southern border, Thompson said, “Absolutely not.”
“We need a smart wall, we need operational control of our border, be they land borders, maritime borders,” Thompson continued in his appearance on “Rising.”
“The professionals who talk to us say, ‘the wall is a 14-century problem for a 21-century solution.’ ”
He added that all the U.S. needs to in terms of ramping up border security is to “apply technology.”
Democrats have long touted a more comprehensive approach to border security, saying they would support funding for scanning technology, increased infrastructure and more border patrol agents.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) has also floated the idea of investing in a “smart wall.”
Just two days before lawmakers reached a short-term spending deal to end the partial government shutdown, Clyburn told reporters that Democrats would be willing to offer $5.7 billion in border security as long as the money is used for measures like a “smart wall.”
President Trump remains adamant about demands for a border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border as lawmakers begin trying to hash out a deal to avoid a second government this year.
Trump tweeted Wednesday that Republicans and Democrats are “wasting their time” if negotiations don’t include “a wall or physical barrier.”
Democrats, meanwhile, remain staunchly opposed to a concrete barrier of any kind, even though they have supported measures for fencing in certain areas in the past.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), however, emphasized that negotiations are all about compromise.
“I’m saying no, but we’re negotiators and we’ll talk,” Cuellar said in reference to Trump’s border wall.
Lawmakers have until February 15 to reach a new budget deal. Failure to do so could lead to another shutdown or pave the way for Trump to declare a state of emergency to get his funding.
—Tess Bonn
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