The Senate of the US Congress on Thursday approved a spending bill until September in a bid to avert the second government shutdown.
The legislation envisages the allocation of $1.37 billion for wall construction and other security measures along the border with Mexico, although US President Donald Trump initially insisted on $5.7 billion.
The legislation is yet to be approved by the lower chamber of the US Congress. After that, the document will be submitted to the president for signing. It is to be signed into law by Friday night. The White House press service said about an hour before the congressional vote that the president was ready to sign the document to avert another government shutdown, but will also announce the state of emergency on the Mexican border, in order to obtain the necessary funds without congressional approval.