So the US shutdown is over – for now.

In his showdown with the Democrats, Donald Trump blinked first - not that he would admit it.

With so many federal workers off the job and unpaid, for so long, something had to give.

But as much as this may look like Trump caving in, I suspect he is playing a longer game.

With the government back open, he’s given the Democrats a three-week window, to actually grow up, govern responsibly, and broker a compromise deal on border security.

I’m actually going to be driving along much of the California and Arizona border with Mexico next month.

I’m looking forward to seeing the madness for myself. And the fact that far fewer problems emerge where the border has been secured with properly reinforced barriers.

But like missing teeth in a smile, the illegals, the drug runners and human traffickers are crudely exploiting the gaping gaps in this porous southern border.

In the past few months alone, 15,000 illegals are being apprehended every week by Border patrol agents. They’re the ones they actually manage to catch, before releasing. Its anyone's guess how many they don’t.

But with over 800,000 claimants, already lined up seeking asylum from the Immigration Courts, its completely out of control. The US doesn’t deserve to be the dumping ground for Central America, and its manifold of people.

Whatever you think of Trump, he made a decent compromise offer over immigration in a bid to get his border security funding. That $5 billion in barrier funding, represents just eight hours of government spending in an entire year.

But isn’t Nancy Pelosi a nasty, vengeful piece of work. No deal Nancy seems more and more hellbent on appeasing the radical wing of her party, than striking a compromise.

She’s become the Queen of the Resistance. Even the Washington Post editorial urged the Dems last week to agree to Trump’s compromise. But not no-deal Nancy.

Instead, she took the unprecedented step of pulling the pin on the State of the Union. It was a trick right out of the far left playbook. She de-platformed him. And the state of disunion continues. Despite the end of the shutdown, there will be no State of the Union address on Wednesday.

But the balls are now firmly back in the Democrats court.

Can they put their pathological hate of Trump to one side and negotiate a compromise deal on border security? Or will they waste this three-week window, and force Trump's hand to declare a national emergency.

If that’s what it takes to free up the border wall funding, so be it. But beefing up the border, must be done