- Border security is essential to reduce illegal immigration. Unchecked illegal immigration is detrimental, not just for the U.S., but for the entire Western Hemisphere.
- The Democrats have the power to end the partial shutdown by simply agreeing to fund border security and the wall.
- Federal employees are likely to eventually be paid. If an employee is declared essential, he or she automatically gets paid when the government reopens. If he or she is furloughed, Congress needs to pass proactive legislation that pays them for time not worked. Although some federal employees will miss their first paycheck on January 11, experts expect that all who have been furloughed will be paid when the shutdown is over.
- The Internal Revenue Service will still issue refunds to taxpayers even if the government remains shut down through filing season.
- Eminent domain is absolutely necessary for border security. It is a core sovereign power that allows the government to build highways, schools, public utilities and much more. In the case of a border wall, the government would be using it appropriately.
- Most of the federal government is already funded. The parts of the government that are shutdown include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, State, Interior, HUD, and Transportation. Fortunately, many of the services they provide are not interrupted because functions are considered essential.
- Essential government services such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid payments, as well as veteran’s benefits and mail services continue uninterrupted. The partial government shutdown also does not threaten national defense—five of the 12 annual spending bills became law in September and that includes funding for the military.
- Some members of Congress are advocating for a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open. But this would put Congress back in the same mess they were in just a few short weeks before.
- The GOP should not cave to the Democrats on border security funding and remember that the first duty of government is to defend its people and sovereign territory.
- Many Democrats have already voted to fund a southern border wall including former Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Resources:
The Heritage Foundation: Sensible Border Security Justifies Government Shutdown
The Heritage Foundation: Government Shutdown? It’s Not As Scary As You Think
The Heritage Foundation: We Need Trump’s Border Wall Plus Other Measures to Reduce Illegal Immigration
Heritage Action for America Press Release: There Is Still Time to Secure the Border
The U.S Department of Justice: History of the Federal Use of Eminent Domain