Top appropriators to meet over stalled border talks as shutdown deadline looms
Source: NBC News
WASHINGTON Negotiations over funding for border security were stalled as the week began, with top appropriators from both parties expected to huddle Monday to try to overcome the latest sticking point ahead of the Friday night deadline to avoid another government shutdown.
Top Democratic appropriators Rep. Nita Lowey of New York and Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont were expected to meet behind closed doors with their Republican counterparts, Rep. Kay Granger of Texas and Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, on Monday afternoon on Capitol Hill.
Despite apparent progress last week, talks stalled over the weekend. The current sticking point in the negotiations is not over a barrier on the nation's southern border its over the number of detention beds for undocumented immigrants who enter the country.
I'm hoping we can get off the dime later today or in the morning because time is ticking away, Shelby, whos leading negotiations as part of a bipartisan, bicameral conference committee, said on Fox News Sunday. We got some problems with the Democrats dealing with ICE, that is detaining criminals that come into the U.S. and they want a cap on them. We don't want a cap on that.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/top-appropriators-meet-over-stalled-border-talks-shutdown-deadline-approaches-n970046