WASHINGTON, D.C. (NBC) – We could be looking at another government shutdown at the end of the week if lawmakers do not reach a deal on border security.
While members of Congress struggle again to find common ground, the president may be ready to go around them.
On Capitol Hill, a last-ditch effort to revive border security talks have all but flatlined.
Top negotiators are working to avoid another government shutdown this Friday with bipartisan talks stalled over border wall funding and now, a new issue: Democrats demanding a limit to the number of beds in immigrant detention centers.
Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fl.) said, “The debate over beds is not really a debate over beds. It’s how we handle amnesty applications.”
It would force ICE to prioritize arresting violent criminals over those who have overstayed their visas.
The administration is calling that proposal dangerous. ICE – acting Deputy Director Matthew Albence said, “That means when a law enforcement agency arrests somebody for domestic violence or sexual assault of a minor, that is in this country illegally, that ICE won’t be able to come pick them up.”
The president punting blame for a possible shutdown to Democrats, calling theirs “a brand new demand. Crazy!”
The president signaling he may go around Congress and declare a national emergency to build his border wall.
Friday, he is working to strengthen his case in el Paso, Texas—a city he has falsely touted as having lower crime thanks to a border fence. But in reality, crime was going down before the fence was built and went back up after construction.
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