WASHINGTON, United States — Outgoing White House chief John Kelly said in an interview published Sunday that he had "nothing but compassion" for undocumented migrants crossing into the US, and undercut President Donald Trump's claims to be building a "wall" at the Mexico border. "Either we build (finish) the Wall or we close the Border," Trump -- who has adopted the 2020 re-election mantra "promises made, promises kept" -- posted as recently as Friday. A former Marine general who led the military command responsible for Latin America, Kelly was Trump's Homeland Security secretary before becoming White House chief of staff in July last year. The Democrats are refusing to provide billions for Trump's border wall project and the president insists he will not fully fund the government unless he gets the money. "And what Donald Trump and the Republicans want to do is waste $5 billion in taxpayer money on an ineffective medieval border wall that is a fifth-century solution to a 21st century problem."

Source: Philippine Star December 30, 2018 20:15 UTC