By Umar Farooq</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to close the southern border if he does not receive funding to finish the border wall.</p> <p>The threats by Trump comes during the seventh day of a partial government shutdown that currently has no visible end.</p> <p>The shutdown began Saturday when Democratic lawmakers rejected a budget proposal from Trump who is asking for $5 billion for the wall.</p> <p>"We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall & also change the ridiculous immigration laws that our Country is saddled with. Hard to believe there was a Congress & President who would approve!" the president said on Twitter.</p> <p>He also tied the issue to trade, claiming that shutting down the border would be a "profit making operation."</p> <p><p>The head of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Mexico Institute told CBS News that closing the border could possibly cost as much as $1 billion.</p> <p>"It's an economic impossibility,” said Duncan Wood. “Literally, the two economies would grind to a halt. Both economies are set up to depend upon cross-border trade," he said.</p> <p>Trump also threatened to cut funding to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.</p> <p>"Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are doing nothing for the United States but taking our money. Word is that a new Caravan is forming in Honduras and they are doing nothing about it. We will be cutting off all aid to these 3 countries – taking advantage of U.S. for years!" Trump tweeted.

