Government shutdown 2019: News and updates for Saturday, Jan. 19

Trump plans announcement for Saturday afternoon
Andrew Sharp, Delaware News Journal Published 9:29 a.m. ET Jan. 19, 2019 | Updated 2:31 p.m. ET Jan. 19, 2019

The president tweeted on Friday that he would "be making a major announcement" on the border and shutdown at 3 p.m. Saturday at the White House. That's now been rescheduled to 4 p.m.

It was unclear whether the president might declare a national emergency, as he had threatened to do in the past. But CNN reported on Friday night that a senior administration official said the speech would not be to declare an emergency, but to make another offer to Democrats.

That offer will likely include protections for children of immigrants who entered the country illegally, USA Today reported.

CNN: Trump plans to make Democrats an offer to end shutdown, not declare national emergency, in Saturday speech, official says

It's been almost a month. The partial government shutdown, amid a dispute over President Donald Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall, reached day 29 on Saturday. But there were hopeful signs.

Democrats shift strategy
New York Times:House Democrats add $1 billion in border-related spending to measures to reopen government

In an effort to counter the president's portrayals of Democrats as opponents of border security, and to gain more control of the debate, "House Democrats have added more than $1 billion in border-related spending" to a package of bills that would reopen the government, the New York Times reported.

Previously, Democrats had refused to negotiate until the government reopened, the Times noted.
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