Agreement reached in principle to avoid second US government shutdown
U.S. congressional negotiators have reached an “agreement in principle” to fund new barrier construction along the U.S.-Mexican border and avert another government shutdown at the end of the week, but President Donald Trump has yet to weigh in whether the deal is acceptable to him.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers hammered out the accord late Monday, which congressional aides said includes $1.375 billion to build 88 kilometers of new fencing at the border, about a quarter of the $5.7 billion Trump wanted for a wall. It also would add technology upgrades for screening at border entry points, as well as more customs officers and humanitarian aid.
The agreement was reached about the same time as Trump took the stage at the border in El Paso, Texas, for a political rally calling for a wall.