House Democrats are trying to sweeten the pot and end the government shutdown by offering President Trump billions for “21st century border security” to coax him into giving up his demands for a wall.
The proposal would provide up to $5.7 billion to boost personnel at the border, add technical enhancements like sensors and drones and more immigration judges.
But while the plan provides more than the $1.3 billion Democrats had originally offered for border security, it doesn’t allocate the $5.7 billion Trump specifically wants for his Southern border barrier.
Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said his party colleagues “support 21st century border security” but oppose “a medieval border wall.”
Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), the House majority whip, also said Democrats would back a plan for a “smart wall.”
But Trump, who was meeting with leading conservatives at the White House about immigration, didn’t sound as if he was going to budge.
“We have to have a wall. We have to have a barricade of some kind, a steel barricade, it’s already designed,” Trump told reporters.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump tweeted out a new slogan for the wall.
“BUILD A WALL & CRIME WILL FALL!” he posted.
The Senate on Thursday — the 34th day of the shutdown — is expected to vote on two proposals.
A Republican measure would give Trump the $5.7 billion for the wall.
The one from Democrats would reopen the government until Feb. 8 but not provide funds for the wall.