Trump news: US lawmakers decide on deal to avoid government shutdown | World | News
The deal will reportedly fund the government through the autumn, resolve immigration disputes and stop a partial government shutdown expected to start on Saturday. It demands for $1.3billion (£1billion) for border barriers which will include 55 new miles of bollard fencing with restrictions on location. The emerging agreement was announced by a group of lawmakers, including Republican Senator Richard Shelby and Democratic-Republican Nita Lowey, after a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill.
Mr Shelby emerged from the meeting and said all outstanding issues had been resolved, according to BBC reports.
However, the group needs the signature of President Donald Trump by midnight (PST) on Friday to fund several federal departments.
Mr Trump previously sought $5.7billion (£4.4billion) for a wall along the US-Mexico border which the Democrats furiously opposed.
The Democrats reportedly backed down from their cap on the number of detention beds Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could use to detain undocumented immigrants.
The Trump administration said last month that it wanted $4.2billion (£3.2billion) for 52,000 beds as the number of people illegally crossing the border has dramatically risen to 2,000 a day.
Representative Lucille Royal-Allard said on Twitter: “A cap on ICE detention beds will force the Trump administration to prioritise deportation for criminals and people who pose real security threats, not law-abiding immigrants who are contributing to our country.”
Talks had stalled due to undocumented immigrants and the funding for the border wall.
The previous shutdown which lasted for 35 days ended in January this year and was longest in US history.
More to follow…
