Immigration talks by Trump raises chances of govt shutdown

President Trump’s incendiary words about immigration have dampened the prospects that a broad spending and immigration deal can be reached by the end of the week, raising the possibility of a government shutdown with unknown political consequences for lawmakers in both parties.

Democrats facing re-election in states that Trump carried in 2016 fear that a government funding crisis, precipitated by an immigration showdown, could imperil their campaigns. And they are growing increasingly uneasy that liberal colleagues eyeing White House bids are demanding that any spending bill beyond a stopgap measure that expires on January 19 include protections for undocumented immigrants brought to the US illegally as children. “Welcome to our world,” said Senator Claire McCaskill, Democrat of Missouri, who is running for reelection in a state that Trump carried by 19 percentage points.

“We’ve got people running for president all trying to find their base, and then you’ve got people from Trump states that are trying to continue to legislate the way we always have — by negotiation,” McCaskill said. “And never the twain shall meet.” But Republicans face their own uncertainties. With their party controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, they could receive most of the blame for a shutdown, even if Senate Democrats effectively block a spending plan that does not extend the immigrant protections of an Obama-era program known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

“To believe that you can successfully blame Democrats for a shutdown over the DACA debate is naive,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina.

The angry recriminations continued from allegations that Trump called African nations “shithole countries” during a White House meeting last week with lawmakers.

TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN SUCCESSFULLY BLAME DEMOCRATS FOR A SHUTDOWN OVER THE DACA DEBATE IS NAIVE”

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina

“WE'VE GOT PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT ALL TRYING TO FIND THEIR BASE, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE FROM TRUMP STATES THAT ARE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO LEGISLATE THE WAY WE ALWAYS HAVE, BY NEGOTIATION”

Senator Claire McCaskill, Democrat of Missouri