Trump offers protection to 7 lakh undocumented immigrants in exchange of border wall funding, but Democrats reject it as "non-starter"

US President Donald Trump has launched a new "compromise" plan to end a prolonged and crippling government shutdown by offering protection from deportations for some 700,000 undocumented immigrants in exchange for a whopping USD 5.7 billion for constructing a controversial wall on the US-Mexico border.

The Democrats, however, rejected the deal as a "non-starter" and called on Trump to open the federal government departments that have been shut for nearly a month before negotiations on immigration could start.

Trump, who made his offer during a televised speech from the White House, offered that he would give protection for some 700,000 young people brought to the country illegally as children -- also known as 'Dreamers' -- and also extend it to some 300,000 with temporary protected status after fleeing countries affected by natural disasters or violence.

The president also called for USD 800 million in "urgent humanitarian assistance" and USD 805 million for drug detection technology to help secure US ports of entry.

Trump also proposed a slew of measures to increase border security, including an increase in law enforcement, saying he was offering a "commonsense compromise both parties (Republicans and Democrats) should embrace."
The president said these concessions would "build the trust and goodwill necessary to begin real immigration reform."
"Both sides in Washington must simply come together," Trump said in a White House speech, adding he is trying to "break the logjam."
Defending his plan for the border wall, he said, "The radical left can never control our borders. Walls are not immoral, in fact they are the opposite of immoral because they will save many lives."
Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer said it's clear the president realizes that by closing the government and hurting so many American workers and their families, he has put himself and the country in an untenable position