Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2019 en route to New Orleans, Louisiana to address the annual American Farm Bureau Federation convention.
President Donald Trump said he will make a “major” announcement on Saturday about the border and ongoing government shutdown, amid reports that the White House could offer a major concession on its immigration hardline to end the standoff with Congress.
@realDonaldTrump: I will be making a major announcement concerning the Humanitarian Crisis on our Southern Border, and the Shutdown, tomorrow afternoon at 3 P.M., live from the @WhiteHouse.
The president did not provide any further details on what he would discuss on what is set to be the 28th day of the partial government shutdown. The White House press team offered no further guidance to reporters when asked about the president’s tweet late Friday.
However, both The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that the president is expected to offer protections from deportations for millions of immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally, in exchange for the nearly $6 billion he is seeking for a border wall.
Citing unnamed White House officials, the publications say the concessions on so-called “Dreamers” is seen as an olive branch to Democrats, and a potential way to end the nearly month-long stalemate that’s shuttered the government.
Axios reported that Trump is prepared to throw his support behind the BRIDGE Act, which would provide three years of temporary legal status and work authorization for the Dreamers. The act was first proposed in 2016 by Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican close to Trump, and Democratic Senator Dick Durbin.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is given to nationals from designated countries affected by armed conflict, natural disaster, or other strife. TPS holders are permitted to work and live in the United States for limited times.