Border Wall Funding Creates More Tension as Record-breaking Shutdown Intensifies

As the government shutdown continues, both Democrats and Republicans continue the fight along partisan lines about funding for the border wall on the Mexico-United States border.

The wall for the border has become the focal point of the government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history. 

Mike Sances, a University of Memphis political science professor, said how one views the shutdown depends on the political party they are associated with.

“Major issues are usually put on the wayside, and it really all becomes about the wall and who’s side you’re on,†Sances said. “If you like the President, then you like the wall. If you don’t like the President, then you don’t like the wall.â€

People are against their political party conceding in the debate over the wall, according to a Pew Research Center study form Jan. 16. Support for the wall among Republicans has reached an all-time high, while support among Democrats has reached its lowest point.

Last year, Congress failed to pass sufficient bills to fund operations and projects such as the IRS, Homeland Security and the National Weather Service, causing the government to partially shut down Dec. 22. One month later, the current shutdown has surpassed the previous record of the 21-day shutdown back in the mid-90s.

Hundreds of thousands of government workers are currently living without pay. Some are still working with the expectation of payment eventually, while others refuse to come in without pay. Of those who oppose the expansion for the wall, 88 percent deem it unacceptable to pass a bill including Trump’s request for wall funding, even if it’s the only way to end the shutdown. 

Sances said there will always be someone to blame at the end of the day, whether they are Democrats or Republicans.

“One side could give in for the greater good, but it doesn’t really look like that is going to happen,†Sances said. “This means this will probably be resolved by presidential negotiations.â€

For others, it does not matter how it gets resolved. Otis Sanford, a UofM journalism professor and political analyst for WA-TN Local 24, calls the shutdown “atrocious for treating people as pawns rather than humans.â€Â 

“The wall is a metaphor,†Snaford said. “A metaphor to treat people differently and tell certain people you don’t like them. I want to see compromise because this affects families. Trump said in his running campaign that Mexico was going to pay for it and, conveniently, they are now leaving that part out.â€

Sanford said that, citizen or no citizen, the wall is a means to segregate and stereotype certain types of people. He also said these recent issues are not only unnecessary, but also “toxic†and “stressful.â€

“We are in a bad place right now,â€Â  Sanford said.