It seems the record breaking government shutdown which is now in its 29th day will go on for a while yet with Democrats rejecting a deal by President Trump to reach a compromise.
The battle of wills has been going on since the 22nd of December and it has severely affected the lives of Americans especially government workers who now are behind on payments, bills and so on because they aren’t being paid.
Trump offered to protect 1 million immigrants in exchange for a $5.7 billion border wall.
The President made this offer during a speech at the White House where he said that he is willing to protect about 700,000 immigrants known as “Dreamers” for another three years. Trump also added that he would be willing to extend the status of another 300,000 immigrants living in the US under Temporary Protected Status, or TPS.
“I’m here today to break the logjam and provide Congress with a path forward to end the government shutdown and solve the crisis on the southern border,” Trump said.
READ: “Government shutdown a ‘gift’ from Democrats”- Trump
In terms of what the country would need to secure the border, Trump, according to the New York Post, listed the items as follows:
- $805 million for drug detection technology
- $800 million for “urgent humanitarian assistance”
- $782 million for new border agents and other law enforcement
- $563 million for the immigration court system, including 75 new judge teams.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was quick to say no to the deal
“It is unlikely that any one of these provisions alone would pass the House, and taken together, they are a non-starter,” she said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated, “Offering some protections back in exchange for the wall is not a compromise but more hostage taking.”
Pelosi agreed with most of the things on Trump’s list but was unwilling to discuss any deal until the government was reopened and was also unable to come up with a counter offer to the President’s proposal.
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