Donald Trump has revived a threat to shut down the US government if Congress does not fund his plans to build a wall at the Mexican border, signalling his determination to press his hardline immigration stand in the lead-up to the November midterm elections. 

In a Sunday morning tweet, he said: “I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!”

Congress faces a September 30 deadline to pass a budget and avoid a government shutdown after failing to come up with a permanent resolution to the impasse over immigration earlier this year. Since then, the debate on the issue fuelled by Mr Trump’s policies has only grown hotter, thanks to his administration’s widely criticised moves to separate children from their parents at the Mexican border.