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The Democratic Wall Is Beginning to Crack

January 10, 2019

Some Democratic lawmakers are beginning to crack on their opposition to the wall.

President Donald Trump and Congress remain at an impasse over funding for Trump's proposed border wall along the southern border. The standoff has resulted in a partial government shutdown that is now in its 20th day. Trump gave an Oval Office address Tuesday night arguing that there is a crisis at the border and that a physical barrier is necessary in order to secure it.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and other Democrats have expressed opposition to any funding for a wall. Pelosi even went as far as calling a border wall "immoral."

However, some cracks are beginning to form in Democratic opposition.

"Some fencing has uses. Some barriers are useful," Sen. Jeff Merkley (D,. Ore.) said.

"If we have a partial wall, if we have fencing, if we have technology used to keep our border safe, all of that is fine," Rep. Cheri Bustos (D., Ill.) said.

"There are areas along the border where there are currently fences that are put up or barriers that are put up that need to be enhanced," Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) said.

"Certainly you need barriers and we support barriers," Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.) said.

"Certain physical barriers can make sense along the border, and a lot of places you already have that," Rep. John Sarbanes (D., Md.) said.

"I think there are parts of the border that would benefit from repairing fencing and other barricades that already exist there," Rep. Katherine Clark (D., Mass.) said.

Trump met with Democratic congressional leaders on Wednesday, but the meeting was short after Pelosi refused to consider border security that included a wall, even if Trump reopened the government.