GOP and Democrat lawmakers are currently at loggerheads over the establishment of Donald Trump’s border wall, prompting a lengthy government shutdown. Beginning late last year, members of Congress were deliberating over funding for President Trump’s core campaign promise – a fortified border wall with Mexico. With no agreement in place by the deadline set for the House of Representatives and the Senate, lawmakers retired for the holidays. Despite Congress now back in session, Democrat and Republican leaders are still yet to bring normal government function back to life.
Why did the government shut down in January 2018?
Today’s issue is of denying immigrants entry to the US with a sky high barrier, but last year’s was for those immigrants which have already entered the US.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was the subject of the January 2018 shutdown.
The DACA allowed immigrant children brought into the country illegally to have longer in the country before they were deported.
Funding agreements passed through the House of Representatives, but stalled in the Senate, where Republicans and Democrats reached deadlock.
The government was back up and running by January 23 and Donald Trump naturally took to Twitter to declare victory.
He said: “Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown. the president said on Twitter at 11:30 p.m.
“Now I want a big win for everyone, including Republicans, Democrats and DACA.
“Especially for our Great Military and Border Security.
“Should be able to get there. See you at the negotiating table!”
How long will the government be shut in 2019?
This year, there is no end in sight for the government shutdown but Donald Trump declared he will do what he needs to pass funding for the wall, including declaring national emergency.
Democrats are also amenable to negotiations, leaving government employees hopeful.
John Kennedy, a Republican of Louisiana said during a recent luncheon: “(Donald Trump) gave no indication of any willingness to budge an inch.
“The president– and I happen to agree with him –believes that his only sin is that for the first time in 15 or 20 years he is actually enforcing America’s immigration laws.”