WASHINGTON — (Scroll Down For Video) — President Donald Trump will address the nation Tuesday night regarding border security. The address is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) and will be carried live on all the major news networks: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, Fox Business, Fox News, MSNBC, PBS and also streaming live on this page, Breaking911.com
The speech will be delivered amid a government shutdown — which was prompted due to a face-off with Democrats regarding funding for a border wall.
I am pleased to inform you that I will Address the Nation on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border. Tuesday night at 9:00 P.M. Eastern.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2019
The President is expected to stress the need to pass legislation that will address the security on the Southern Border. The White House maintains that any government funding bill must address the ‘security and humanitarian crises on our Southern Border.’
Building a wall was a major campaign promise made by Trump.
“What I expect the president will do tonight is explain to the American people that we have a humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border,” Vice President Pence said on NBC’s “Today” show. “He’ll explain the need, not just to build a wall, which he’s determined to do, but also to provide our Border Patrol with additional resources, humanitarian and medical assistance, new technology.”
According to the Washington Post, President Trump is ‘not expected to declare a national emergency that could empower him to move forward with construction without congressional consent.’
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi will deliver a response following the President’s address.
“Now that the television networks have decided to air the president’s address, which if his past statements are any indication will be full of malice and misinformation, Democrats must immediately be given equal airtime,” Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement.
Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders says he will also follow with his own video statement.
The Trump Administration has requested additional funds—relative to the FY2019 Homeland Security funding bill that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee (Committee)—to address these priorities.
- $5.7 billion for construction of a steel barrier on the Southern Border to fund 234 miles of new physical barrier—an increase of $4.1 billion over the Committee bill.
- $675 million to deter and detect narcotics, weapons, and other materials that pose a threat to the United States—an increase of $631 million over the Committee bill.
- Will provide Non-Intrusive Inspection technology for all incoming vehicle lanes of traffic at U.S. Southwest Border Land Ports of Entry, as well as necessary canine and other support.
- $211 million to hire 750 additional Border Patrol agents in order to keep our borders safe and secure—an increase of $100 million over the Committee bill.
- $800 million to fund enhanced medical support, transportation, consumable supplies, and additional temporary facilities necessary to ensure the well-being of those taken into custody.
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT:
- $571 million for 2,000 additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to enforce immigration laws, combat gang violence, catch drug smugglers and stop human traffickers.
- $4.2 billion to support 52,000 detention beds, personnel, alternatives to detention, and transportation to address the recent surge in illegal immigration across the Southern Border—an increase of $798 million over the Committee bill.
- At least $563 million for 75 additional Immigration judges and support staff to reduce the backlog of pending immigration cases.
- President Trump will work with Congress to facilitate expanded in-country processing of refugee claims.
The President will travel to the border on Thursday.
WATCH LIVE: President Trump’s Prime-Time Address from the Oval Office (The video feed below will carry the President’s speech live as it happens)
(c) 2019 Breaking911 – T. Grant Benson / @GrantB911
