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US shutdown: Trump to make 'major announcement' on Mexico wall
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Related TopicsUS government shutdown
Media captionFederal workers queue up for free food
US President Donald Trump says he will make a "major announcement" later on his Mexican border wall, an issue that has partially shut down government.
The shutdown, now in its fifth week, is the longest in US history and has left 800,000 federal workers unpaid.
Mr Trump insists on $5.7bn (£4.5bn) funding for the wall but opposition Democrats refuse to support it.
Correspondents say Mr Trump may offer a concession on so-called Dreamers, who entered the US illegally when young.
Why has the US government shut down?
Six ways the US shutdown ends
Mr Trump insists the wall is needed to end a security crisis on the southern border, while the Democrats call it a waste of taxpayers' money.
When is the announcement and what could it include?
It will be from the White House on Saturday afternoon, although it has been put back an hour to 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT).
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Mr Trump had a brief exchange with reporters on Saturday morning but gave little away, saying: "I think it'll be an important statement."
How much of Trump's wall has been built?
Sixteen ways the US shutdown is hurting
How will history judge President Trump?
The BBC's David Willis in Washington says Mr Trump might be poised to offer a concession on the Dreamers, young people who entered the United States with their parents illegally.
Donald TrumpImage copyrightEPA
Image caption
Donald Trump is unlikely to declare a national emergency on the wall - yet
These youngsters are currently protected from deportation under a programme that allows them to work but not get citizenship. Mr Trump has been trying to rescind the programme.
Sources told US media Mr Trump may extend protection for Dreamers for three years and also extend visas for Temporary Protection Status holders. More than 300,000 people from countries affected by war or disasters are allowed to live and work in the US under TPS, another system Mr Trump opposes.
Mr Trump will continue to demand $5.7bn for the wall, the sources say.
They also say it is unlikely he will declare a national emergency over the wall.
Such a declaration would free up funds, probably from defence department spending, but be hugely controversial and would almost certainly spark legal challenges.
So could this end the shutdown?
The Dreamers issue has been a key one for Democrats but, our correspondent says, movement on that front alone is unlikely to bring an end to the shutdown, given the bitter opposition among Democrats to the wall project, which they have called "immoral".
1 hour ago
Share this with Facebook Share this with Messenger Share this with Twitter Share this with Email Share
Related TopicsUS government shutdown
Media captionFederal workers queue up for free food
US President Donald Trump says he will make a "major announcement" later on his Mexican border wall, an issue that has partially shut down government.
The shutdown, now in its fifth week, is the longest in US history and has left 800,000 federal workers unpaid.
Mr Trump insists on $5.7bn (£4.5bn) funding for the wall but opposition Democrats refuse to support it.
Correspondents say Mr Trump may offer a concession on so-called Dreamers, who entered the US illegally when young.
Why has the US government shut down?
Six ways the US shutdown ends
Mr Trump insists the wall is needed to end a security crisis on the southern border, while the Democrats call it a waste of taxpayers' money.
When is the announcement and what could it include?
It will be from the White House on Saturday afternoon, although it has been put back an hour to 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT).
Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
Report
End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump
Mr Trump had a brief exchange with reporters on Saturday morning but gave little away, saying: "I think it'll be an important statement."
How much of Trump's wall has been built?
Sixteen ways the US shutdown is hurting
How will history judge President Trump?
The BBC's David Willis in Washington says Mr Trump might be poised to offer a concession on the Dreamers, young people who entered the United States with their parents illegally.
Donald TrumpImage copyrightEPA
Image caption
Donald Trump is unlikely to declare a national emergency on the wall - yet
These youngsters are currently protected from deportation under a programme that allows them to work but not get citizenship. Mr Trump has been trying to rescind the programme.
Sources told US media Mr Trump may extend protection for Dreamers for three years and also extend visas for Temporary Protection Status holders. More than 300,000 people from countries affected by war or disasters are allowed to live and work in the US under TPS, another system Mr Trump opposes.
Mr Trump will continue to demand $5.7bn for the wall, the sources say.
They also say it is unlikely he will declare a national emergency over the wall.
Such a declaration would free up funds, probably from defence department spending, but be hugely controversial and would almost certainly spark legal challenges.
So could this end the shutdown?
The Dreamers issue has been a key one for Democrats but, our correspondent says, movement on that front alone is unlikely to bring an end to the shutdown, given the bitter opposition among Democrats to the wall project, which they have called "immoral".