Washington, May 6: US President Donald Trump has floated a new idea about border security, saying that people might "have to think about closing up the country", the media reported.
"They don't want the wall but we're going to get the wall, even if we have to think about closing up the country for a while," CNN quoted Trump as saying during a tax reform roundtable in Ohio on Saturday.
"We're going to get the wall. We have no choice. We have absolutely no choice. And we're going to get tremendous security in our country.
"And we may have to close up our country to get this straight, because we either have a country or we don't. And you can't allow people to pour into our country the way they're doing," he added.
It was not immediately clear what Trump meant by the remarks. The White House has not commented.
Indian origin Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal told CNN on Saturday that Trump "is absolutely out of his mind to think that is any kind of a reasonable solution for our economy or compassionate or in line with our values.
"This President has done everything he can every time he's in trouble to turn around and try to turn it against immigrants, and it really deeply saddens me," Jayapal said.
During the roundtable, the President sharply criticised Democrats, including Ohio's Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, for their opposition to a border wall.
Trump has escalated his rhetoric against illegal immigration, especially in the wake of an annual migrant caravan that is seeking asylum in the US.
He has also ordered the National Guard to deploy troops to the border to address what the administration calls a "crisis" there.
Trump also told supporters at a speech in Michigan last weekend that if Congress did not meet his funding demands for border security, he may support a government shutdown this winter.
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New Delhi (PTI): As the Lok Sabha was briefly adjourned amid opposition protests after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the Mahakumbh, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the LoP should be allowed to speak according to the democratic structure but is not given permission in "new India".
Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament that he also wanted to speak in the House on the issue and pointed out at that PM Modi should have paid homage to those who lost their lives in the January 29 stampede at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.
The Lok Sabha was briefly adjourned till 1 pm on Tuesday following protests by opposition members over Modi's remarks on the success of the Mahakumbh, which was held from January 13 to February 26.
Many opposition members were on their feet protesting after the prime minister spoke.
"I wanted to support what he was saying. Kumbh is our tradition, history and culture. There was also a complaint that he did not pay homage to those who lost their lives (in the stampede in the Mahakumbh)," Gandhi said.
"The other thing I wanted to say is that the youth that went to the Kumbh need another thing from the PM, they need employment. The prime minister should speak on employment," the Congress leader said.
Asked if he was not allowed to speak, Gandhi said, "We are not allowed to speak. According to the democratic structure, the LoP should be permitted to speak, but is not given permission, but this is new India."
Congress' Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the opposition should have been allowed to speak in the House.
"Opposition also has its sentiments on it and they should not have had any objection to them airing their views," she said.
Describing the Mahakumbh as an important milestone, Modi told the Lok Sabha that the event was a befitting response to those who questioned India's capability to organise such a large congregation.
He said the entire world witnessed the grandeur of India during the Mahakumbh and the religious gathering reflected the spirit of rising India.