BORDER/DREAMERS/IMMIGRATION/NATIONAL SECURITY/POLITICS: “U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday [1-23-18] sought a way forward on an immigration deal including protection for ‘Dreamer’ immigrants and border security before federal funding runs out again next month.
On Monday, the Republican-led Congress passed a measure signed into law by President Donald Trump to fund the federal government through Feb. 8 following a three-day shutdown. But they will have to return to thorny budget issues that have now become intertwined with contentious immigration policy… Trump himself has vacillated on immigration between tough rhetoric demanding a U.S. border wall and a softer tone urging a ‘bill of love’ for Dreamers, prompting Democrats and some Republicans to call him an unreliable negotiating partner…
As federal employees returned to work on Tuesday they faced a new furlough in 17 days if lawmakers and Trump do not find another short-term fix or a longer term budget.
A funding bill easily passed after Senate Democratic leaders accepted a pledge by Republicans to hold a debate later over the fate of the Dreamers and related immigration issues…
Trump’s budget director Mick Mulvaney, however, indicated the White House might be looking for a bigger deal.”
-Reuters Staff, “Lawmakers scramble on immigration as government shutdown paused,” Reuters, Jan. 23, 2018 07:35am