Congress unveils $1.3 trillion spending package, no immigration deal
After months of rancor and debate, it appears that, once again, immigrants will be left out of a budget deal. As CNN reports, Congress last night unveiled a bipartisan $1.3 trillion spending package that will keep the government funded until the end of September and has President Donald Trump’s support. Questions remain whether the proposal will pass Congress in time to avert a government shutdown Friday at midnight.
As usual, many issues complicated the budget negotiations. On immigration, lawmakers worked for months to find consensus on how to deal with the possible end of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). But despite some negotiations with the White House at the last minute, there was no deal. The White House offered to continue the program for two and a half years in exchange for $25 billion in border security, but Democrats argued they wanted a more permanent solution. Democrats offered the White House $25 billion in border security in exchange for a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million DACA eligible individuals. The White House passed. In the end, all that is slated to be included is $1.6 billion in border security, which includes millions for 33 miles of new border fencing — not a concrete wall — that was already authorized through the 2006 Secure Fence Act. Democrats and environmental groups secured a win in that the bill prohibits any wall being built through the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge.
UPDATE: On March 22, the House of Representatives passed the budget bill.
KJ