Immigration battlefield widens for Trump, GOP
Congress is bracing for several fights this fall over immigration and border security as the Trump administration struggles to make good on its campaign promises.
The battle could pit President Trump against moderates and senators up for reelection in 2018, who want a more comprehensive approach to both issues.
Lawmakers must pass legislation by the end of September to avoid a government shutdown. The White House appears poised to use that deadline as leverage to secure progress on its immigration agenda and particularly on funding for a border wall, Trumps most famous campaign promise.
House Republicans fired the opening salvo before leaving town for the August recess, tucking $1.6 billion for a U.S.-Mexico border wall into a broader $827 billion national security-themed package. But that bill is largely considered dead on arrival in the Senate.
The Trump administration is making a hard push for border wall funding as part of any agreement.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/346555-immigration-battlefield-widens-for-trump-gop