The president of the U.S. Border Patrol Council pointed out the irony inherent in the border security debate amid the partial government shutdown.

Art Del Cueto noted that top Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will continue to receive a paycheck as the federal government entered a partial shutdown over a heated disagreement over funding of President Donald Trump’s border wall.

But the men and women who are actually on hand to protect the U.S. border will not be collecting pay, Del Cueto said on “Fox & Friends” Saturday.

“I think it’s funny that the people that are causing this shutdown like Chuck and Nancy, they’re still getting paid,” Del Cueto said. “Yet we have men and women that are very dedicated to defending our borders out there now that they don’t know when they will receive another paycheck.”

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …

Trump’s proposed “Steel Slat Barrier” design for the wall is “definitely something we need,” Del Cueto continued.

“It’s refreshing to see a president that actually cares about the American people, cares about securing our borders,” he continued. “I can assure you, in the areas we have put better barriers – wall being one of them – the numbers have gone down dramatically.”

A design of our Steel Slat Barrier which is totally effective while at the same time beautiful! pic.twitter.com/sGltXh0cu9 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2018

Del Cueto thought it was “fantastic” that Trump is holding up and not backing down on his demand for a border wall but he admitted agents are seeing a “surge” in illegal immigration.

“We definitely are. We’re seeing a surge, we’re seeing more people coming in,” he said.

About 54,000 Customs and Border Protection agents will be working without pay during the partial government shutdown, according to Fox News.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …

“The reality is, agents are out there working 24/7. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Christmas or not, we’re out there working,” he added. “We’re not Santa Claus – we work all year long.”