WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced a proposal for Democrats in a televised speech Saturday afternoon to end the the 29-day partial government shutdown.
In his speech, he said he wants to trade temporary protections against deportation for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants for money to build his wall.
[ >> More from Jamie Dupree: President’s plan, with details, reaction ]
His plan included $800 million in humanitarian assistance as well as $805 million for drug-detection technology. The proposal would also add 2,750 border agents and law enforcement officials.
The proposal included $5.7 billion for the deployment of a physical barrier or wall. That wall, he said, would not be a 2,000-mile concrete structure, but steel in high priority areas.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described Trump’s proposal as a “nonstarter” moments before the announcement.
Democrats want the protections to be permanent and want him to reopen government before negotiating on border security.
The shutdown began Dec. 22, 2018 over a stalemate between Trump and congressional leaders over his demand for more than $5 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.