Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats just made a major mistake.
They drew a line in the sand and dared Donald Trump to cross it.
And that led to Pelosi suffering the most humiliating defeat of her life.
Republicans and Democrats on a House and Senate border security conference committee worked to find a deal that funded President Trump’s border security priorities including money for a new physical barrier on the Southern border.
The two sides eventually agreed to a compromise that provided for 1.4 billion dollars in barrier funding.
But Pelosi and the Democrats suffered an even more significant defeat in the negotiations.
Democrats nearly blew up the talks by demanding a limit on the number of ICE detention beds.
This demand would not have been made without Pelosi’s approval.
Democrats wanted to limit the number of illegal aliens ICE could hold in their custody – without an exception for violent criminals – to tie the Trump administration’s hands and limit their ability to round up illegal aliens and deport them.
To them, allowing an unlimited flow of illegal aliens into the country was paramount.
But they were forced to cave in on that demand.
The agreement negotiators struck does not limit the number of ICE detention beds.
And it allows the President to move money around with Congressional approval that could result in up to 52,000 detention beds, which is an increase from the current figure of just over 49,000.
While the deal is not everything Trump wanted, he did force Pelosi and the Democrats to back down on limiting ICE’s ability to stage raids to capture illegal aliens by restricting the number of beds they can use to house them.
In addition, Trump has administrative actions he can take to build the wall.
The President does not need to declare a national emergency to order the military to build the wall.
Title 10, Section 284 of the U.S. code authorizes the President to order the military to build “Construction of roads and fences and installation of lighting to block drug smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States.”
Despite what the fake news often “reports” not all drugs are smuggled into the United States at ports of entry.
Just recently, the government intercepted drug smugglers trying to sneak 700 pounds of cocaine across the U.S. border.
This dramatic interdiction happened at an unsecured area of the Southern border.
By utilizing this aspect of U.S. law, Trump can take unilateral action to build the wall without declaring a national emergency.
Democrats entered the negotiation pledging no new wall money and the desire to cap ICE detention beds.
They lost on both counts.
Some Trump supporters aren’t happy with the deal because it only provides for 1.4 billion dollars in new barrier money.
Sean Hannity called the deal “garbage.”
Other Trump supporters think Trump pushed the Democrats off their stated positions and can now use executive authority to finish the wall.
What do you think?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
