So if you're not going to stop it, in all fairness, there's not much they can do. They can get them every once in a while; but the other way, we can eliminate the problem as it pertains to the area that is the worst problem. Probably the world's worst problem - because they come into the United States because we have the money. That's true with drugs. And everything I said for human trafficking is also true with drugs.
So we got to get the politics out of this and go back to common sense. You know, they say it's a medieval solution, a wall. That's true. It's medieval because it worked then and it works even better now. Israel put up a wall - 99.9 percent successful, according to Bibi Netanyahu. He came into my office a couple of months ago. He said, "What's with the wall? We put up a wall. It was 99.9 percent successful." 99.9. I said, "Do you mind if I use that number?" He said - because, you know, they'll fact-check it and they'll go and say, "Oh, it actually only 99 percent. The President told a fib." No, he told me 99.9. Maybe he'll change it and make it 99.
But they put up a wall and they don't have a problem anymore. And we have to do the same thing.
The United States must not incentivize or enable these evil crimes. Instead, we should do everything we can to fight them. And that's what we're doing. I call on Congress to send me a funding bill to secure the border, build a barrier, and help end this horrific assault on innocent life, not to mention the drugs, not to mention the gangs and the criminals.
And I will very gladly sign this legislation having to do specifically with a horrible, horrible worldwide problem: human trafficking. And it's my honor to do it, and I very much appreciate all of the Democrat support. I very much do. Thank you.
(The bill is signed.)
Okay. (Applause.) Just, I'll explain to the press: So often - my whole life I've watched Presidents, they'd sign one letter at a time. One letter. Did you ever look at these signatures? They're a disaster. So I sign it with one pen and then I hand out pens. It works out much better. It's also a lot faster.
SECRETARY NIELSEN: Let's get some to the ICE guys.
THE PRESIDENT: Folks - pass them. Yeah, where are my ICE guys? Come on. Where are they? Just pass them around. I think we have enough. We have enough for everybody. We're pretty accurate in our count. Okay? Here you go. Where's my senator back there? At least we have to care of the Republican senator. (Laughter.) We took care of the Democrat, right? Michael, you have it? Good. Pass that around, fellas. Chris.
Q Mr. President, what do you say to those federal workers - security guards, Secret Service agents, TSA agents - who are now going without pay?
THE PRESIDENT: I think they have been terrific. These are terrific patriots. A lot of them agree with what I'm doing. And I hope we're going to have the situation worked out. But they want security in our country, and so do I. That's all we want. We want security. We want common sense and we want security in our security.
When you look at what's going on - immigration just went to very high on your list. I saw even on your list. Immigration is very high on the list. But we're not talking about just immigration.
And I would like - and I'll say it in front of some of our Democrat friends here - I would love to see a big immigration bill, where we really take care of the situation. I know you want to. Everybody wants to. Who wouldn't want it? Right now we have a problem. We have to take care of this, and it's quicker and easier to do this individually.
But we would like to see real immigration reform in this country, because we need it, and it can be a beautiful thing. And with all of the companies coming into our country - we have seven car companies now that are announcing, or have announced just recently, and we have many car companies and other companies - as you know, they're flowing in. We have the best job numbers, virtually, that we've ever had. For African American, the best ever. Hispanic, Asian, the best ever. The best in 50 years. And the overall number, soon that's going to be beaten.
So we have the best job numbers. We need people. We need great, qualified people. We want them to come in. So I think it's a great time right now, because of that. We need people, Rob. And, I mean, in Ohio, you need workers. And I know you feel the same way. I know Chris - I mean, I'll speak to Chris. But everybody wants to see immigration reform. It just - it's overdue. And it's always been very political, and maybe this will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
But, Jon, I will tell you this: The people out there want something to happen at our southern border, whether it's human trafficking, whether it's drugs, whether it's criminals, whether it's MS-13. The folks behind me know all about MS-13 and how violent and vicious they are, and where they come from. And they all come from the same place. And they call come in the same way; they come right across that border.
And we've thrown thousands out. I would say thousands - right, fellas? I mean, literally MS-13.
SECRETARY NIELSEN: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: And you have a lot of it, I know that, Rich. We throw thousands out, a year, and then they come back. And we move them all the way back to where they came from. All the way back. And they find a way to come back again.
We need strong borders, and we need immigration reform. Beyond that, we need immigration reform.
Ok, let's go.
Q But these people have to go without their paychecks. Some of them are being forced to work without pay. Some have been furloughed. These are -
THE PRESIDENT: They all get their money. They're all going to get the money. And I think they're going to be happy.
And I will tell you - and I say it often: Many of those that you're talking about so humanly, the way you express it, but many of those people that you talk about are on my side. I've had so many people - the beautiful thing is with social media: The world can write to you. And you take a look at social media. So many of those people are saying, "It's very hard for me. It's very hard for my family. But, Mr. President, you're doing the right thing. Get it done." I've had so many of them. They're patriots. They love our country, and they want to see it be done.
Look, this is just common sense. They want to see it be done correctly. We need a barrier. We have to stop people from coming in the way they come in. And if we don't have it - you can never have border security unless you have a steel barrier, a concrete wall. You can call it whatever you want. But without it, you'll never have - you can have the greatest talent in the world. You will never, ever, in a million years, you will not have border security. Can't happen.
Q Mr. President, what's your current thinking on a national emergency? Why didn't you announce it last night? And when might you -
THE PRESIDENT: Because I think we might work a deal. And if we don't, I may go that route. I have the absolute right to do national emergency if I want.
Q And what's your threshold for when you might make that decision?
THE PRESIDENT: My threshold will be if I can't make a deal with people that are unreasonable.
Q What's your message to the Republicans who are now on Capitol Hill saying -
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I think we have tremendous Republican support. I tell you what: I just spoke to a few of the people in the House. We have tremendous support. The Senate has been incredible. Mitch McConnell has been incredible. He said, "If the President is not going to sign, then I'm not going to waste my time." And, I mean, Rob Portman is here - he can tell you - he's very strong on border security.
We have tremendous support in the Senate. We have tremendous support in the House. And, by the way - you know, they say, "Oh, is it true that somebody - you know, a congressman, he broke away?" Let me tell you - yeah, every once in a while, you're going to have that. But you know who else has that? The Democrats have that too, because they have their people breaking away too. You know why? Because they know you need border security. But you don't report that.
But the fact is that there is tremendous support. I would know - without support, I would be the first one to know. I may be the last one too. But there is tremendous support.
Right now, if I did something that was foolish, like gave up on border security, the first ones that would hit me are my senators. They'd be angry at me. The second ones would be the House. And the third ones would be, frankly, my base and a lot of Republicans out there, and a lot of Democrats that want to see border security.
Okay. What else? Any questions?
Q So why not sign the other bills, though? So some of these workers can get paid, and the government -
THE PRESIDENT: You think I should do that?
Q Yeah, you can -
THE PRESIDENT: No, no, do you think I should do that, Jon?
Q Well, it's not for me to say that.
THE PRESIDENT: I mean, I watch your one-sided reporting. Do you think I should do that? Hey, Jon - no, seriously, Jon, do you think I should just sign?
Q Well, the argument -
THE PRESIDENT: No, no, tell me. Tell me.
Q - (inaudible) sign these bills that have nothing to do with border security.
THE PRESIDENT: Jon, do you think I should just sign?
Q I'm saying that, if you sign that, these workers can start getting paid, the government can start -
THE PRESIDENT: So you would do that? If you were in my position, you'd do that?
Q I'm not in your position. I'm asking if you've got something (inaudible).
THE PRESIDENT: I'm asking you, would you do that if you were in my position? Because if you would do that, you should never be in this position. (Laughter.) Because you'd never get anything done.
Goodbye, everybody. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.
