Coons: ‘I Hope’ Lawmakers Present New Money for a New Border Barrier

On Monday’s broadcast of CNN’s “New Day,” Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) said that he hopes there will be new funding for a new border barrier presented by the border security conference committee.

Co-host John Berman asked, “[I]n the next 15 days, do you think that there will be any new funding for a new border barrier presented by this group of lawmakers?”

Coons answered, “Well, I hope so. I hope we’re going to find a path out of this. Let me be clear, what I said was that a border barrier is infrastructure, it, in and of itself, isn’t immoral, but lots of things about President Trump’s immigration policies are immoral. Intentionally separating children from their parents, using cruelty as a tool of immigration policy is immoral. But when we’re talking about infrastructure on the border, Democrats and Republicans over the last 20 years have voted to increase border security through a whole series of things, modern technology, more personnel, and more border fencing. There’s 700 miles of fencing already. I don’t know exactly what combination of money and technology will get the president’s support, but he should let the Senate and this new bipartisan committee — conference committee do its work and not prejudge the outcome.”

Coons added that he wants new border security money to be spent in a smart and effective manner, “I don’t think that means another several hundred miles of border fencing.”

He further stated that neither side of the negotiations should begin by having an absolute position.

(h/t Grabien)

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett