Border deal talks fail as second US government shutdown looms
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have clashed on Sunday over border wall funding, as a repeat of another US government shutdown could be a reality.
Lawmakers have said, attempts made to resolve issues over border security funding would go well into the weekend as a special congressional negotiating panel will aim to reach a deal by Monday.
The lawmakers hoped to have an agreement by Monday to allow time for the legislation to pass and get signed by president Donald Trump by Friday.
Republican senator Richard Shelby told Fox News on Sunday that talks were currently on hold. He said the impasse was over the Democrats’ desire to reduce the number of beds in detention facilities for people who enter the country illegally.
It comes after Trump agreed to end a 35-day partial US government shutdown on January 25, without getting $5.7 billion in wall funding from Congress. The Democrats identified this as a win, and instead agreed to a three-week spending deal to give lawmakers time to resolve their disagreements.
A major disagreement between the two parties is that the Democrats want fewer detention beds for people arrested by US Immigration agents, (ICE) while the Republicans want to increase the number as part of a broader immigration plan.
The plan is part of Trump’s pledge to stop the influx of undocumented immigrants by building a border wall and cracking down on illegal immigrants living in the US by conducting more deportations.
US government shutdown looms
Trump weighed in on the situation on twitter, saying: ‘They are offering very little money for the desperately needed border wall & now, out of the blue, want a cap on convicted violent felons to be held in detention!’
Meanwhile, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said he could not rule out another shutdown. 'You absolutely cannot,' Mulvaney, told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. 'Is a shutdown entirely off the table? The answer is no.' He said.
Political analysts worry, another US government shutdown coudl be close if the two parties don't reach a decision by deadline.
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