This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47191959

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
US shutdown talks stall ahead of deadline US shutdown looms as border talks stall ahead of deadline
(about 1 hour later)
Talks between congressional Republicans and Democrats aimed at averting another US government shutdown have broken down without agreement. US congressional talks over a border security deal have stalled raising the chances of another government shutdown.
The negotiators were hoping for a deal by Monday to give Congress time to pass legislation by Friday, when last month's federal funding deal runs out. Negotiators were hoping for a deal by Monday to give Congress time to pass legislation by Friday, when the federal funding agreement runs out.
The impasse centres on Democratic demands to limit the detention of irregular migrants already in the US. Divisions remain a limit on how many undocumented immigrants can be detained and funding for President Trump's promised border wall with Mexico.
The previous shutdown, lasting 35 days, was the longest in US history.The previous shutdown, lasting 35 days, was the longest in US history.
Hundreds of thousands of workers were furloughed or worked without pay. The cost to the US economy was estimated at $11bn (£8.5bn). Hundreds of thousands of workers were furloughed while others in essential services, such as hospital care, air traffic control and law enforcement, worked without pay.
The cost to the US economy was estimated at $11bn (£8.5bn).
It was unclear how the negotiators would try to reach a deal as no further talks were scheduled, Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying.It was unclear how the negotiators would try to reach a deal as no further talks were scheduled, Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying.
What is the latest impasse about?What is the latest impasse about?
Democrats want Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to concentrate on detaining migrants with criminal records instead of those who have overstayed their visas by limiting the number of beds its detention centres have. The 17 Republican and Democratic negotiators from the Senate and the House have been holding talks to reach a border security agreement that can be accepted by Congress.
Democrats were hoping to cap the number of beds at 16,500. That is roughly the number of people detained in the last years of the Obama White House, the Washington Post says. The latest impasse seems to be centred on a Democratic demand to limit the number of undocumented migrants already in the US who can be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The 17 negotiators from the Senate and the House had also been looking at between $1.3bn and $2bn in funding for Mr Trump's proposed border wall, a long way off the $5.7bn the president has been demanding, reports say. Democrats planned to cap the number of beds at detention centres at 16,500.
By doing that, they hoped to force ICE to focus on detaining irregular migrants with criminal records instead of those who have overstayed their visas.
They had also been looking at between $1.3bn and $2bn in funding for Mr Trump's proposed border wall, a long way off the $5.7bn the president has been demanding.
Lead Republican negotiator Senator Richard Shelby said on Sunday he was "not confident we're going to get there".Lead Republican negotiator Senator Richard Shelby said on Sunday he was "not confident we're going to get there".
"I'll say 50-50 we get a deal," he told Fox News, adding: "The spectre of a shutdown is always out there.""I'll say 50-50 we get a deal," he told Fox News, adding: "The spectre of a shutdown is always out there."
However one of the Democratic negotiators, Jon Tester, said he remained hopeful a deal could be reached in time to avoid a new shutdown.However one of the Democratic negotiators, Jon Tester, said he remained hopeful a deal could be reached in time to avoid a new shutdown.
"It's a negotiation. Negotiations seldom go smooth all the way through," he told Fox News Sunday."It's a negotiation. Negotiations seldom go smooth all the way through," he told Fox News Sunday.
Why is there a risk of another shutdown?Why is there a risk of another shutdown?
On 25 January President Trump agreed to a three-week spending deal to end the shutdown and allow Congress to reach agreement.On 25 January President Trump agreed to a three-week spending deal to end the shutdown and allow Congress to reach agreement.
However he later suggested the talks were a "waste of time".However he later suggested the talks were a "waste of time".
Mr Trump had made stopping the influx of undocumented immigrants the focus of his 2016 campaign - and a priority while in office.Mr Trump had made stopping the influx of undocumented immigrants the focus of his 2016 campaign - and a priority while in office.
His administration had cracked down on immigrants living illegally in the US by aggressively conducting deportations.His administration had cracked down on immigrants living illegally in the US by aggressively conducting deportations.
The president has backed away from his calls to make Mexico pay for a concrete wall along the border. But during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday he insisted on a "smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier". The president has backed away from his calls to make Mexico pay for a concrete wall along the border. But during his State of the Union speech last Tuesday he insisted on a "smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier".
What would happen in a shutdown?What would happen in a shutdown?
Federal agencies including the Homeland Security, State, Agriculture and Commerce Departments could lose access to money and begin to close down again, affecting about 800,000 federal employees, who would go unpaid.Federal agencies including the Homeland Security, State, Agriculture and Commerce Departments could lose access to money and begin to close down again, affecting about 800,000 federal employees, who would go unpaid.
During a shutdown, essential services - including border protection, hospital care, air traffic control, law enforcement and power grid maintenance - continue to operate, with workers being required to show up.During a shutdown, essential services - including border protection, hospital care, air traffic control, law enforcement and power grid maintenance - continue to operate, with workers being required to show up.
Last time, some employees continued to work unpaid but many others called in sick.Last time, some employees continued to work unpaid but many others called in sick.