BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 6 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump, amid budget negotiations, demanded $18 billion to construct more than 700 miles of barriers along the border with Mexico:

“I am not sure why President Trump wants to shut down the government over a multi-billion dollar wall that no one wants, is not needed and will not be paid for by Mexico. What the American people do want, in overwhelming numbers, is to provide legal protection to 800,000 Dreamers and a path toward citizenship for them.”