Senator Chuck Schumer is withdrawing his offer to negotiate funding for a wall along the southern border as part of an immigration compromise, he said yesterday. “We’re going to have to start on a new basis and the wall offer is off the table,” Schumer said, adding that the wall offer was initially part of a larger package.
Schumer met privately with the president last Friday. At that meeting, a deal was presented that Schumer hoped would avert a government shutdown. Part of that deal was a permanent solution to the DACA and funding for a wall along the southern border, a demand from President Trump. Schumer hoped that that deal would keep the government open for several more days while some of the issues at an impasse were worked out. President Trump rejected that deal, saying it wasn’t strong enough on immigration, and the government shut down for three days.
The government is funded until February 8 and by that time, both Republicans and Democrats hope to have a larger spending bill in place. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to bring votes to the floor on immigration, defense and the other outstanding issues if they are not resolved by then.
President Trump reiterated the position of his administration in Tweet late last night, saying that any agreement on DACA is contingent on funding for a border wall.
Cryin’ Chuck Schumer fully understands, especially after his humiliating defeat, that if there is no Wall, there is no DACA. We must have safety and security, together with a strong Military, for our great people!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2018