A top US Republican has announced that President Donald Trump has indicated he is prepared to sign-off on a bill aimed at ending the stand-off over US border security.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the president would declare a national emergency as soon as he signed the bill.
The declaration would help President Trump secure more funding for his promised wall along the Mexican border – however Democrats are almost certain to launch a court challenge against it on Constitutional grounds.
Senator McConnell made the announcement in the Senate chamber in the past hour – and the White House has since confirmed it.
“I've just had an opportunity to speak with President Trump,” said Senator McConnell. “He has indicated he is prepared to sign the bill.”
“He will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time.
“I have indicated to him that I am going to support the national emergency declaration.”
"Unease and dismay"
Soon after the announcement, Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi warned that President Trump was setting a precedent that should be greeted with “great unease and dismay” by Republicans and Democrats alike.
I’m speaking with reporters live from the Capitol ahead of the House’s vote on the deal to #KeepGovernmentOpen. https://t.co/cc3TgjzOoC
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 14, 2019
“I know the Republicans have some unease about it no matter what they say,” she said.
“If the President can declare an emergency on something that he has created as an emergency – an illusion that he wants to convey – just think what a president with different values can present to the American people.
She noted that today marks the one year anniversary of the mass shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
“You want to talk about a national emergency?” she asked. “Let’s talk about today - the one year anniversary of another manifestation of the epidemic of gun violence in America.”
“That is a national emergency. Why don’t you declare that emergency Mr President? I wish you would.
“But a Democratic president can do that. Democratic presidents can declare emergencies as well.
“So the precedent the President is setting here is something that should be greeted with great unease and dismay by the Republicans and of course we will respond accordingly.”
Shutdown
The bicameral border security proposal was crafted by lawmakers from both sides of the US divide in order to avoid another Federal shutdown over the impasse.
Some 800,000 federal workers were impacted by the Government shutdown – which lasted 35 days between December and January.
The shutdown began after President Trump refused to sign any funding bill that did not include $5.7bn for his border wall.
For their part, Democrats refused to provide any money for a wall they believe would be unnecessary and ineffective. They pledged extra funding for border security, just not the wall itself.
Deal
President Trump agreed to suspend the shutdown in late January – and after weeks of bi-partisan negotiations a deal was reached.
The deal adds €1.4bn for physical barriers along the border – although the word ‘wall’ is not included in the document.
President Trump initially voiced scepticism at the deal – and a number of Republicans remain opposed to it.
“I can’t say I’m happy,” President Trump said on Tuesday. “I can’t say I’m thrilled.”
“I don’t think you’re going to see a shutdown,” he added. “If you did have it it’s the Democrats fault.”
