Congressional negotiators have reached a tentative agreement on border security that would allow the government to remain open past Friday.
It’s being called an agreement in principle. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL.) said details would be released when the bill drafting is completed. But NPR reports:
“Negotiators agreed to $1.375 billion for “physical barriers” at the border — the same level that was agreed to in last year’s Department of Homeland Security funding bill, according to multiple congressional sources. This will fund about 55 miles of fencing.”
That’s only a fraction of what the White House wanted. There was also the issue of funding for detention beds. Republicans want more, Democrats, less.
“Negotiators also agreed to an overall number of 40,520 detention beds at Immigration and Custom Enforcement facilities for the year — a drop from the current number of 49,057, according to two congressional sources. The number of detention beds had been a sticking point that had stalled negotiations over the weekend.”
But will Donald Trump sign it? Negotiators believe they can have a bill to the White House before Friday. Early reaction to the bill from conservative media has not been positive.
Sean Hannity calls the compromise deal “garbage.”
At a rally in El Paso, Trump said he would build the wall regardless of the Congressional compromise.