WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump’s wall demands:

“Tonight, President Trump failed to make a convincing case for his multi-billion dollar border wall. 

“President Trump’s policies aren’t working and have contributed to a humanitarian challenge.  As long as President Trump prevents our government from functioning, it will be difficult to effectively address this situation, especially since he is forcing U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to work without a pay check. 

“There is a simple solution on the table: Reopen the government and work on meaningful immigration legislation.  Rather than building miles of wall where it’s ineffective, we should invest in better inspection equipment to stop smuggling at points where it’s actually happening.

“I urge President Trump to stop trying to shift blame and mislead Americans about the nature of the problem, and start working with Congress on real solutions."