Senior White House official reiterates border "crisis" as Trump proposes more funding for wall

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's top economic advisor reiterated Sunday that the situation on the U.S.-Mexico border is a "crisis," as the president is reportedly seeking additional funding for the border wall from Congress.

"It's a crisis of economics. It's a crisis of crime and drugs. It's a crisis of humanity," Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, said in an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."

The Washington Post reported Sunday that Trump will ask for at least another 8.6 billion U.S. dollars in financial year 2020 to build additional sections of the wall -- 5 billion dollars in funding for the Department of Homeland Security and 3.6 billion dollars for the Department of Defense's military construction fund.

Trump is due on Monday to send to Congress the 2020 budget blueprint, which, according to Kudlow, also includes a proposed 5 percent cut "across the board" on domestic spending.

Asked whether there will be another budget fight over the wall, Kudlow said "I suppose there will be. I would just say that the whole issue of the wall and border security is of paramount importance."

Kudlow said the United States should be "much tougher" and "have more constructive immigration policy," adding that Trump is "going to stay with this wall."