Coronavirus US News: California Frets About Porous Border, Trump Assures His Wall Will Help

When President Donald Trump first announced his plans to build a wall on the southern border to control illegal immigration into the country, there were many critics to the idea. However, as the coronavirus continues its devastating run across the U.S., at least some officials from border states like California are calling for tighter border controls.

California was one of the states that took the moral stance of helping undocumented immigrants. However, its sanctuary policies with the porous border have led to some officials raising concerns. Across the border, Mexico is struggling with the explosive rise of coronavirus infections that have overwhlemed the country's fragile health care systems.

Trump recently took a potshot at California because of the concerns raised about infected people coming into the state through the southern border. The President tweeted Monday:

"Mexico is sadly experiencing very big CoronaVirus problems, and now California, get this, doesn’t want people coming over the Southern Border. A Classic! They are sooo lucky that I am their President. Border is very tight and the Wall is rapidly being built!"

The tweet was classic Trump. Inarguably, the crisis is proof that the border wall is not just about keeping illegal immigrants out, and the President did not waste the opportunity to drive home the political point.

Trump has already stopped immigration until the pandemic is under control and only essential travel has been allowed. Still, despite the strict measures that are in place, thousands of people reportedly cross the Ysidro-Tijuana border daily, which has led to officials raising their concerns.

San Diego County's Third District supervisor Kristin Gaspar wrote to Vice President Mike Pence last month expressing concern about the spread of the coronavirus in the border areas of Mexico and the risk of it spreading in America because of the “sudden influx of critically ill patients” from the southern country, Fox News reported.

There are an estimated 2 million illegal immigrants living in California. The state's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom decided to help 150,000 adults among the illegal immigrants by giving them $500 each, CNBC reported. The money was to be raised from taxpayer dollars and contributions from non-profit organizations.

Newsom noted in a statement April that 10% of California’s workforce is composed of illegal immigrants. He said these immigrants paid $2.5 billion in taxes last year.