Trump heading to US-Mexico border as shutdown chaos bites

Donald Trump is taking his border wall battle to the front line, with the United States in chaos on the 17th day of government shutdown.

Donald Trump is heading to the US-Mexico border this week, with the United States in chaos and an immigration crisis looming after 17 days of partial government shutdown.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted that the US President would “travel to the Southern border on Thursday to meet with those on the front lines”.

Mr Trump said he would “address the nation on the humanitarian and national security crisis” on Tuesday at 9pm Eastern Time.

The President is demanding $US5.7 billion ($A8 billion) to fund his long-promised border wall on the southern border, but Democrats have refused to agree to provide money for the plan they see as “immoral”.

President @realDonaldTrump will travel to the Southern border on Thursday to meet with those on the frontlines of the national security and humanitarian crisis. More details will be announced soon.

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 7, 2019

I am pleased to inform you that I will Address the Nation on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border. Tuesday night at 9:00 P.M. Eastern.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2019

It means Congress has not been able to pass funding for key government agencies, with services on hold and 800,000 federal workers on leave without pay or working without pay.

National parks, airports and immigration courts are struggling to function, and the dire situation for America is only set to get worse as the government remains at an impasse.

But Mr Trump said all was going well, and that he was now thinking of building a steel wall, rather than a concrete one as he initially planned.

Acting White House budget director Russell Vought sent a letter to congressional leaders on Sunday listing the administration’s demands, which include $US5.7 billion “for construction of a steel barrier for the Southwest border” plus “an additional $800 million ($A1.1 billion) to address urgent humanitarian needs” and unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the border.

The Democrats only want to provide $US1.3 billion ($A1.8 billion) for border security, which includes funding for a fence instead of a wall.

Donald Trump is heading to the US-Mexico border with his government in deadlock over funding for the controversial policy. Picture: Jim Watson / AFP

The situation at the border is worsening under the Trump administration, with migrants waiting on the Mexican side for weeks or months before they can submit applications, according to the New York Times. Desperately families are increasingly turning to people smugglers, who charge exorbitant rates for assistance in sneaking into the US.

With Democrats now holding the majority in the House of Representatives and Republicans controlling the Senate, a bipartisan solution is essential. But ongoing talks have come to nothing, with both sides sticking to their guns.

Mr Trump in recent days said he would be prepared to declare a national emergency to redirect defence department money toward wall construction, although experts were unclear about the legality of this.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attacked the idea on Sunday, telling CBS News the President “would like to not only close government, build a wall, but also abolish Congress so the only voice that mattered was his own.”

V.P. Mike Pence and group had a productive meeting with the Schumer/Pelosi representatives today. Many details of Border Security were discussed. We are now planning a Steel Barrier rather than concrete. It is both stronger & less obtrusive. Good solution, and made in the U.S.A.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2019

....The only reason they do not want to build a Wall is that Walls Work! 99% of our illegal Border crossings will end, crime in our Country will go way down and we will save billions of dollars a year! A properly planned and constructed Wall will pay for itself many times a year!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2019

Mr Trump insists that only his controversial wall will be sufficient to solve US immigration issues, stating last week that he would be willing to leave the government in shutdown for “months or even years” if necessary.

He said Republicans “feel very strongly about having a safe country, about having a border that makes sense.”

Some GOP politicians have suggested tying funding for the wall to support for young immigrants known as “Dreamers”, but neither the President or Democratic Party have indicated that they would agree to this.

Mr Trump’s journey to the wall will draw the eyes of the world’s media to the face of the political battle, as the argument swells into perhaps the greatest battle of his turbulent presidency.

The President said on Sunday that he was sympathetic to the government workers going without pay but that “many of those people agree with what I’m doing.”

He told reporters outside the White House: “I can relate, and I’m sure the people who are on the receiving end will make adjustments; they always do.”