President Donald Trump didn’t declare a national emergency at the border. He instead called the surge of thousands of asylum seekers from Central America arriving at the Southwest border a crisis.

"The proposal from Homeland Security includes cutting-edge technology for detecting drugs, weapons, illegal contraband and many other things. We have requested more agents, immigration judges and bed space to process the sharp rise in unlawful migration fueled by our very strong economy," Trump said.

He also called on Congress for $5.7 billion to build a barrier of steel fencing.

Santa Cruz County supervisor Bruce Bracker said the prime-time Oval Office speech didn’t address what’s needed the most at Arizona’s border: staffing at the ports of entry.

"I don’t see it so much as a crisis," he said. "I see it as a progression of lack of funding that the border needs for infrastructure."

Meanwhile, the government shutdown stretches toward a third week and, this Friday, government workers will miss their first paycheck.

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