Photo: ReutersPresident Donald Trump will sign a border security bill to avert another government shutdown, but also declare a national emergency to obtain funds for his promised US-Mexico border wall, the top Senate Republican said on Thursday. "He will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time and I've indicated to him that I'm going to support a national emergency declaration," McConnell said. Congress was expected later on Thursday to approve the legislation, which does not contain the money Trump demanded for the wall but does contain money for other border security measures. The border bill would provide $1.37 billion in new money to help build 55 miles (88.5 km) of new physical barriers on the border. It is the same level of funding Congress appropriated for border security measures last year, including barriers but not concrete walls.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 14, 2019 20:26 UTC