Trump says Dems want ‘large-scale crime’ in latest call for border security

President Trump on Monday blasted Democrats for their views on immigration, calling the issue a “top national security problem” following his threat to shut down the government if he fails to secure his border priorities.

Illegal immigration is a top National Security problem. After decades of playing games, with the whole World laughing at the stupidity of our immigration laws, and with Democrats thinking…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2018

…that Open Borders, large scale Crime, and abolishing ICE is good for them, we must get smart and finally do what must be done for the Safety and Security of our Country!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2018

The president has repeatedly sought to cast Democrats as in favor of “open borders” and “crime” because of their opposition to his agenda that cracks down on illegal immigration. 

{mosads}He also says the party is working to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While a handful of prominent Democrats have said they’d favor getting rid of the agency, the majority of the party has not voiced support for such a measure.

The president’s latest calls for changes to immigration policy come hours after he doubled down on his threat to shut down the federal government at the end of September if Congress doesn’t adequately fund his border wall and make changes to legal immigration programs.

“If we don’t get border security after many, many years of talk within the United States, I would have no problem doing a shutdown,” Trump said during a joint press conference with Italy’s prime minister.

Trump would not say if he would veto a spending bill in September unless it included “full” funding for a border wall, saying, “I’ll always leave room for negotiation.”

The president raised the possibility of a shutdown in a Sunday tweet, where he said Congress must end the diversity visa lottery, strengthen enforcement and move toward a more merit-based immigration system.

I would be willing to “shut down” government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2018

Republican lawmakers have pushed back against the idea of shutting down the government, and expressed confidence on Monday that they could avert such a political standoff.

A Trump-supported shutdown would loom large just weeks before the November midterm elections, where Republicans are hoping to stave off a Democratic push to retake control of the House and Senate.