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President Donald Trump presents a section of the border wall that separates the United States and Mexico. (April 5)
AP, AP

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump reportedly offered to forgive Kevin McAleenan, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, where he was breaking the law and was arrested for blocking entry into the United States along the border south, reported CNN and the New York Times.

The media, quoting anonymous administration officials, reported that the conversation had taken place last week when Trump had gone to the border in Calexico, California. McAleenan was at the time Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Trump appointed him to head DHS after Kirstjen Nielsen resigned on Sunday.

During his visit to the border, Trump asked McAleenan to close the border and he "would forgive him when he went to jail for refusing the entry of migrants to the United States," CNN reported. . The Times reported that the conversation was centered on closing the entire southwestern border, not just on migrants looking for entry.

CNN and the Times both said it was unclear whether the president's remarks were a joke because they occurred just one day after Trump's removal of threats to close the border.

In a statement, DHS rejected reports.

"At no time has the president indicated, asked for, directed or lobbied the acting secretary for it to do something illegal," the department said in a statement. "The Acting Secretary would not take action against our responsibility to enforce the law either."

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President Donald Trump said his administration was ensuring that the country knew that there was "a real emergency" at the US-Mexico border. (April 5)
AP

More: Trump returns to the US-Mexico border, says he's considering an "economic sanction" for drug trafficking at the border

More: Who is Kevin McAleenan, Acting Homeland Security Chief of Trump after Kirstjen Nielsen leaves?

Trump had stated that there was "a very good probability" of closing the border because of the flow of migrants crossing Mexico and heading for the United States. He 've moved away from this idea after going back to Capitol Hill' s corporate and republican groups. A closure would disrupt daily trade of about $ 1.5 billion.

Instead, Trump suggested his administration erase the tariffs on the vehicles well before considering sealing the country of its southern neighbor. "I do not think we'll ever have to close the border," Trump told the Oval Office last week.

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President Donald Trump has threatened Friday to close next week the Mexican border or much of it, a potentially dramatic step for the economies of both countries, if Mexico does not stop illegal immigration at once. (March 29)
AP

During his trip to the border, Trump said Mexico had responded to the threat of closing the southern border with an unprecedented effort to monitor cross-border activity, saying his country "now apprehended thousands of people." "on the southern border.

The president also sent a direct message to migrants heading to the United States.

"Our country is full," Trump told border officials and elected officials. "I can not take it anymore, I'm sorry, go back, it's like that."

In March, US Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 92,000 immigrants attempting to cross the border illegally, a record in twelve years, the US Customs and Border Protection said Tuesday.

Of these, 92,607 immigrants were apprehended at the border – the highest monthly number since April 2007, when 104,465 immigrants were arrested for attempting to enter the country illegally.

Of those arrested in March, 30,555 were single adults, 8,975 unaccompanied children and 53,077 family units, mainly from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, Customs and Housing Protection said. borders of the United States.

The number of family units apprehended is a record.

Contributor: David Jackson, Michael Collins and John Fritze

More: President Trump asks migrants to "turn around" when visiting California at the border

More: President Trump says the United States could never close the Mexican border, they would first try the tariffs

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