Fierce debate over US immigration and border security threatened short-term efforts to prevent the halting of some government activities by midnight Friday as funding for government agencies runs out at the end of the working week.
The Senate starts debating temporary expenditure budget for a month approved by the House of Representatives but delayed it for a while on Thursday night.
Senators will start debating it Friday at 11 am local time, just hours before the deadline for partial government activity.
Michael VOA reporter Michael Bowman reported that the Republican fraction that controls the two assemblies in Congress needs the support of the Democratic faction to pass the funding extension but the Democrats insist on opposing any bill that does not protect young immigrants from possible deportation.
Immigrant rights activists may be angry with policy – the policy of President Donald Trump, but they lose patience with members of Congress from the Democrats who repeatedly support the government funding bill that does not protect young immigrants brought to the United States as a child.
Guerline Josef, Haitian immigrants, said, "It's time for them, who are committed to getting our voice support, fulfill their promise. Do not just come to us when we need support, but also to be our community defender. "
Now the Democratic faction in Congress is united against extending the funding of government activities unless the issue of immigration is included, a move that has political risks.
Luis Gutierez, a member of the House of Representatives from the Democratic fraction said, "Democrats will not budge. We will try to defend the values we hold high. "
Meanwhile the Republican faction suffered shocks following conflicting messages from the White House. To the extent that Senator Lindsey Graham of the Republican Party says, "What I am asking from the White House is this: find out what you want. I can not read your mind. "
Last week, Trump initially urged the need for a bipartisan immigration agreement, but later rejected it. The Senate proposal offers protection for young immigrants brought to the United States illegally as well as increasing physical barriers along the US-Mexico border – a kind of initial effort for the fulfillment of a presidential appointment to erect a border wall.
However, even regarding one of the most promised promises in the 2016 campaign, the White House created confusion. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly told legislators on Wednesday that Trump did not understand the reality of building a massive frontier wall. The core of Kelly's statement is that Trump's view evolves.
To Fox News, Kelly said, "I told all the members of the Congress who were in the room that they were talking about things that emerged during the campaign that they may not have been fully informed." [19659003] The President responded to Kelly's statement via Twitter with a cue, "Wall Wall well. It does not change and has not evolved since the first day I promised it. "
In essence, Republican faction leaders in Congress will not hold a vote on immigration and border security proposals until Trump approves it.
The majority leader of the Republican fraction in the US Senate, Mitch McConnel, said, "As soon as we know what he wants, I will feel confident that we are doing something with a clear purpose."
Democrats see the Republicans as incapable of governing.
Democratic minority leader in Senate Chuck Schumer said, "One thing that stood in our way was the constant stream of chaos from the White House. It upsets the Republican fraction. We hardly know who to negotiate with. "
Trump sets March as the DACA enactment deadline, a program that protects young immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children of deportation. The program gives immigrants a temporary work permit and study permit. The Republican faction wants more time to discuss the issue of immigration. The increasingly frustrated Democrat faction insists: the time is up. [ab/lt]
