US Senate rejects plans to end shutdown

Competing proposals by President Donald Trump and the Democrats to end the partial US government shutdown have both failed to pass the US Senate.

The US Senate has voted down two proposals - one offered by President Donald Trump and the other by Democrats - to end the partial US government shutdown.

It's now likely that the impasse, which has led to 800,000 government workers furloughed or working without pay, will extend at least through the weekend.

Thursday's vote on Trump's proposal was 50-47, but it failed because it needed to clear a 60-vote threshold. The breakdown for the Democrats' proposal was 52-44, also not enough to pass.

Trump's proposal, which he outlined in a speech on Saturday, would have included $US5.7 billion ($A7.99 billion) to build a wall along vast parts of the southern border. It also includes funding for additional border agents, and thousands more immigration and customs officials.

The proposal also would extend for three years protections for "dreamers," or those who were minors when their undocumented parents brought them to the United States.

Trump's proposal, however, also would change asylum laws in ways that immigration advocates say will limit the number of asylum seekers allowed into the country each year.

The Democrats' plan did not offer any more money for border security, but the short-term funding is meant to provide for a period where immigration negotiations could continue. It also provides for $US14 billion in emergency spending for disaster relief.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Democrats' proposal "allows us to reopen the government and then - then, after government is open - settle our differences over border security. I know it's not partisan because every single Republican supported the same basic idea just one month ago when we voted on it."


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world