BORDER/DEMS/GOP/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “Democrats aren’t the only ones who wish President Donald Trump weren’t obsessed with building a border wall. Even hard-line conservative immigration activists are frustrated with Trump’s relentless focus on a border wall — and are pushing him to embrace what they call more effective enforcement policies as part of any deal with Congress. They are working with a half-dozen Republican members of Congress to write additional proposals they hope the White House will support. The suggestions include reducing the number of people sponsored for residency by family members, eliminating the visa lottery system and mandating nationwide E-Verify, an online system that allows businesses to cross-check work authorizations…When NumbersUSA outlined 10 steps to bolster immigration enforcement on its website, a border wall didn’t even make the list. The group, which has participated in discussions at the White House this week, sent an email blast to supporters urging them to contact the White House to include other measures. Democrats who are dug in against funding a wall have said they might agree to some toughened enforcement measures that don’t involve concrete or steel structures, although they generally oppose E-Verify and reducing legal immigration.”
–Eliana Johnson, Gabby Orr and Anita Kumar, “Trump’s border wall obsession frustrates conservative activists,” Politico, January 23, 2019 6:39 pm