President Trump threatens to close border with Mexico as standoff over wall continues

President Donald Trump threatened Friday to close the U.S. border with Mexico, holding firm on his insistence that congressional Democrats get on board with funding a wall to help stave off illegal immigrants pouring into the country from the south.

Meanwhile, America's government shutdown — now in Day 7 — will likely carry into next week and the new year as Congress refuses to budge in the standoff.

What are the details?

In a series of tweets, President Trump announced that his administration could be forced to seal America's U.S.-Mexico border if "obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the wall and also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our country is saddled with."

We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018

He went on to say that he would consider such closure to be a "profit making operation" given how much the U.S. loses in trade with Mexico under NAFTA.

....The United States looses soooo much money on Trade with Mexico under NAFTA, over 75 Billion Dollars a year (not including Drug Money which would be many times that amount), that I would consider closing the Southern Border a “profit making operation." We build a Wall or.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018

The president then reiterated his threat to close the border if wall funding isn't secured, and added that his administration would also cut off foreign aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador for taking money from the U.S. while not preventing its citizens from migrating to America in caravans.

.....close the Southern Border. Bring our car industry back into the United States where it belongs. Go back to pre-NAFTA, before so many of our companies and jobs were so foolishly sent to Mexico. Either we build (finish) the Wall or we close the Border......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018

.....Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries - taking advantage of U.S. for years!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2018

What has Congress been up to?

The Senate held a pro-forma session Thursday. According to ABC News, no lawmakers showed up during the holiday break, and the office of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) notified members Thursday that there would be no votes this week.