The United States government had a funding gap for the 21st time Dec. 22, which led to another government shutdown.

The shutdown happened because President Donald Trump did not receive the $5 billion for the border wall. Trump initially said Mexico would cover the cost of the wall.

Trump threatened to close the American border into the U.S. Dec. 28 if the government is not given the money to build the wall.

“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!” Trump tweeted.

This shutdown affects government-run agencies such as parks, museums, law enforcement, the judiciary system, the Internal Revenue Service, food aid programs and the Violence Against Women Act.

Why is the president insisting this $5 billion be used to create a wall between the United States and Mexico when Flint, MI still does not have clean water? Why can we not use part of the money to feed and house homeless veterans? Could we use it to make improvements on the education system or health care system in the country? How about we add it to the Social Security system and create funding for government systems such as food stamps?

Why does the government constantly have to cut funding here and there and take away services for people, yet the president can shut the government down until his wall is funded?

I have always heard people say we cannot help people in other countries until we can better the people we have in our own countries.

Illegal immigration may be an issue that needs to be fixed, but someone does not heal by cutting off all help and aid. The people coming into the United States are not all criminals, they are not all drug lords, they do not all sexually assault people and they are not all coming here to create a harmful environment for Americans.

Despite what is said in Facebook debates and actual false news websites, illegal immigrants cannot receive government assistance because they are not registered in the United States Social Security system. Therefore, they cannot receive food stamps or any other assistance unless their child is a citizen, and even then, the family only receives benefits for that child.

They also provide a lot of crops Americans consume daily. The Department of Labor found in its National Agricultural Workers Survey 46 percent of farm workers in the United States are illegal immigrants.

The majority of these illegal immigrants are fleeing to America to find a better life for their families. One of my closest friends’ dad came here illegally and is now living in his home country away from his family because he cannot be here, but he wanted his children to have a life he never did.

If Trump claims he can just shut the border down whenever he pleases, then what is the point in building this expensive wall when there are Americans who are living without clean water or food in their stomachs?

This wall sends a message that this country does not want to help them. It tells them we want to block off any and all assistance they may need, even though it is not their fault for being born where they were.

I have been against this wall from the beginning, and I will continue to be against it until the talk about it is gone. I know if I were in the immigrants’ shoes, I would want someone to help me, and that is exactly what should happen.