Thread by @jacobsoboroff

Trump and Nielsen claiming that closing the border would stop or alleviate a legit family surge is bizarre.

It would block migrants legally seeking asylum at ports and add to a crush in between.

Their ultimate goal: detain families indefinitely and immediately deport solo kids.

Now, this.

Blocking legal asylum + cutting aid = another Trump-made crisis.

He wants it to look bad (like separations) so it‘ll scare Congress into indefinitely detaining families and deporting unaccompanied minors.

Didn’t work then, won’t work now. wapo.st/2U3V16l

That’s not a theory.

It’s what a DHS official *told me* during separations: thought was chaos of crying kids would force Congress to allow indefinite detention and immediate deportation.

Same official said that’s why they regretted end of separations: “crisis” would have grown.

Just like when he said to “let Obamacare implode,” Trump’s administration is making choices that are clearly exacerbating an already unstable situation at the border.

They’re trying to choke out the legal asylum system not because it’s illegal — but because they don’t like it.

Migrants rushing in now — just like before Trump’s inaugural — in part because of his threats.

That’s a selling point for cartels: you better go now.

CBP used to call this “Trump effect” — literally attributing surge to his rhetoric.

They’ve mysteriously stopped saying it. 🤔