The Republican Party is set to give a formal endorsement to the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border espoused by Donald Trump, solidifying it in the party’s platform.
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Amy Carnevale of Massachusetts, both on the Republican National Convention Platform Committee, successfully petitioned to have the language in the draft platform given to delegates changed to include mention of a wall during subcommittee meetings Monday morning.
After saying securing borders is of the “highest priority,” the new language makes clear the party seeks a wall.
“That is why we support building a wall along our southern border and protect if all ports of entry,” the new language reads, according to Kobach. “The border wall must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.”
That was stronger and more in line with Trump’s repeated calls for a wall than the version of the platform that was distributed to delegates as a jumping off point Sunday night, which was obtained by CNN.
“That is why we have in the past demanded, at our vulnerable borders, construction of a physical barrier and, at all ports of entry, maximum vigilance,” the earlier language said.
The provision does not specify how the wall should be financed; Trump has said repeatedly that he would force Mexico to pay for the wall.
The full platform committee was meeting Tuesday afternoon to debate the changes that were made in subcommittees on Monday morning.