Republican border security negotiator expects announcement by Monday

Republican Congressman Steven Palazzo of Mississippi told Yahoo Finance he thinks border security negotiators will have something to announce by Monday, Feb. 11.

Palazzo is one of the 17 lawmakers tasked with negotiating a border security compromise. Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, another Republican negotiator in the committee, also said he expects a deal on border security funding by Monday.

The conference committee has one week left to avert another government shutdown.

President Trump continues to push for money to fund a wall or barrier along the southern border, but Palazzo said lawmakers should not get caught up in “political rhetoric” about the wall.

“There will be money for defensive barrier and fencing, and secondary and primary barriers -- whether you want to call it a wall, a fence or some other kind of deterrent,” said Palazzo during an appearance on Yahoo Finance’s “The First Trade.”

The congressman said the committee is still negotiating how much money might go toward barriers. Palazzo said negotiators are also discussing additional border patrol agents, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and new technology at ports of entry.

Palazzo and several other members of the conference committee recently took a tour of the southern border, meeting with Customers and Border Protection and ICE officials.

“The one thing that’s absolutely certain, they say walls work,” said Palazzo.

The president has warned he could declare a national emergency to build a wall, but administration officials have said Trump would prefer a legislative solution.

Palazzo said he’s hopeful Congress will pass a bill the president can support before the Feb. 15 deadline.

“I think there’s still that bipartisan good faith effort to find common sense solutions, some common ground,” said Palazzo.

Jessica Smith is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaASmith8