Trump: I'd love shutdown if there's no immigration deal

US President Donald Trump has said that he would "love to see" the US government shut down if Congress does not negotiate an immigration deal.

"If we don't change it let's have a shutdown. We'll do a shutdown, and it's worth it for our country," he said.

Earlier in the day, his chief of staff said Mr Trump was unlikely to extend a deadline when legal protections for young immigrants expire.

The government briefly closed last month amid congressional gridlock.

Speaking on Tuesday to a White House law enforcement panel on gang violence, Mr Trump said: "If we don't change the legislation, if we don't get rid of these loopholes where killers are allowed to come into our country and continue to kill... if we don't change it, let's have a shutdown.

"I'd love to see a shutdown if we don't get this stuff taken care of."

Democratic leader Senator Chuck Schumer said Mr Trump's comment "speaks for itself".

"We had one Trump shutdown, nobody wants another, maybe except him," the New York senator added.

But White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders later said that Mr Trump was "not advocating for the shutdown".

（BBC News）