President Donald Trump offered Democrats a compromise to end the partial government shutdown that has been ongoing over a dispute for $5.7 billion in funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
In an announcement from the White House, Trump said the compromise includes extending the status of DACA recipients for another three years as well as extending the legal status of those under a Temporary Protected Status for another three years. Trump said that the plan being put forward includes $5.7 billion in funding to physically secure the border. He said it would not be a 2,000 mile concrete structure from “sea to sea” but rather steel barriers in high priority areas.
The shutdown has now entered day 29 and affected federal workers continue to go on without paychecks. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day on his way to Dover Air Force Base — where Trump met with the families of the Americans killed in Syria — the president did not give any indication of what his announcement may be, only saying that it will be “important.” He added that he hopes Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi can come to the realization that walls work.
Axios first reported that Trump is expected to make an offer to Democrats to extend DACA protections and to extend the legal status of Temporary Protected Status holders. When the contents of the proposal were reported in the press, Democrats already came out against the offer.
You can watch the 4 p.m. announcement below:
Trump’s plan also includes funding for humanitarian assistance, drug detection technology, additional border patrol agents and immigration judges. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will bring the bill to the Senate floor this week, Trump said.
“Everyone has made their point—now it’s time to make a law,” McConnell said in a statement following Trump’s speech.
“I intend to move to this legislation this week. With bipartisan cooperation, the Senate can send a bill to the House quickly so that they can take action as well. The situation for furloughed employees isn’t getting any brighter and the crisis at the border isn’t improved by show votes. But the President’s plan is a path toward addressing both issues quickly.”
However, before Trump’s speech, Pelosi said in a statement that Democrats were hopeful Trump was finally willing to reopen the government. But after media reports of the impending proposal, Pelosi said it “is a compilation of several previously rejected initiatives.” Pelosi said it was unlikely that either of the provisions would pass the House individually and that taken together, they were a “non-starter.”
In her statement, she added that the proposal does not include a permanent solution to help DACA recipients and those under Temporary Protected Status.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said Trump and McConnell must first reopen the government and that he could not support the offer as reported. Durbin said he does not believe the deal can pass in the Senate. Durbin said he would be ready to sit down and resolve all outstanding issues once the government reopens.
Trump’s refusal to sign spending bills that lack $5.7 billion he wants to start constructing that wall, which Democrats oppose, has prompted the shutdown.
Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Photo: resident Donald Trump speak to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press
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