Another Shutdown? Border Security Talks Stall

TIJUANA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 5: Prototype sections of a border wall between Mexico and the United States are under construction on October 5, 2017 in Tijuana, Mexico. Prototypes of the border wall propopsed by President Donald Trump are being built just north of the U.S.- Mexico border, where competitors who are hoping to gain approval to build the wall have until the first of next month to complete their work. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

For all the talk of avoiding a second government shutdown within a month, it now appears likely it could happen again. Negotiations over border security have “stalled” according to one key Republican. Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama was on Fox News this morning:

Lot of pessimism this morning about a deal; on Friday, lawmakers were optimistic a deal was within reach. Shelby just now: “I’m not confident we’re going to get there.” https://t.co/UM9rqwu8hA
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 10, 2019

Meanwhile, the White House chief of staff appeared on NBC’s Meet The Press, and he too sounded pessimistic.

Acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on Meet the Press that we "absolutely cannot" rule out another government shutdown, with talks having reached another impasse ahead of this week's looming deadline. https://t.co/aXsBCkbICC
— Axios (@axios) February 10, 2019

The issue again appears to be funding for a border wall plus now Republicans are insisting on an increase in the number of detention beds for detained migrants. From Politico:

“BEDS WILL BE ANOTHER STICKING POINT. Before the wall was a Republican priority, Democrats always focused on beds. Democrats have for years been vocal about their skepticism of the need for massive amounts of additional detention beds for undocumented migrants. Republicans are pushing for more, saying that there is an operational need for them.”

A senior Democratic aide confirms to NBC that the govt spending talks have stalled. “A deal that includes new physical barriers must all include limits on the number of ICE detention beds. If Senate Republicans won’t compromise with us on both, we can’t reach a deal.” https://t.co/q4Vkmfk5FF
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) February 10, 2019

Democratic negotiators are meeting this morning.