I’ve known people who worked in congressional offices. “Conservative” constituents called with that kind of thing all the time. “I’m against illegal immigration, but I want my kids’ nanny to get to stay! You have to help!”
The wink and nod fest permeates movers and shakers in both major parties, and that’s why the GOP can’t do it all of its lonesome. It would make the GOP look like jerks.
Few people believed there could be an actual wall. Many believed that the border could be defended better.
The big sleeper issue with a literal wall is going to be animal migration. There have to be passages such that the literal coyotes can roam while the figurative ones can’t. The left is all juiced up for this kind of thing. And I don’t think Donald is ignorant about it either. He’ll propose something at the right time in the political process.