Donald Trump will visit the US-Mexico border on Thursday as the White House attempts to focus attention on the so-called immigration crisis. (Photo by Chris Kleponis /Sipa USA)

Donald Trump will visit the US-Mexico border on Thursday as the White House continues to attempt to focus attention to on a “crisis” at the border.

The announcement comes as the US government shut down enters its third week with Trump and congressional Democrats at an impasse over Trump’s demand for nearly $6 billion in federal funding to build a wall on the southern border.

CNN reports White House officials said Trump also asked aides over the weekend about delivering a prime time address on Tuesday.

The public address is reportedly in planning stages now — but Trump wants to make his case about the government shutdown and wall funding in advance of Thursday’s border trip.

An aerial photo showing houses and yards built up to the border fence in the Nido de las Aguilas section of Tijuana. (John Gibbins/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS/Sipa USA)

Bill Shine, the deputy chief of staff for communications, was set to meet with aides on Monday afternoon to discuss a potential address to the nation. The New York Times first reported Trump’s desire to address the nation.

It’s unclear whether the networks will take it or have yet been formally asked.

Trump will “meet with those on the front lines of the national security and humanitarian crisis,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced Monday morning on Twitter.

According to reports the president

She said: “President @realDonaldTrump will travel to the Southern border on Thursday to meet with those on the frontlines of the national security and humanitarian crisis. More details will be announced soon.”

As the shut down continues hundreds of thousands of federal staff are working without pay.

Transport officials at major airports across the country are not attending work and a key housing programme being carried our by the Department of Housing and Urban Development is running out of money.

Trump administration officials have pointed to a surge in migrant families crossing the border to make their case that the situation at the southern border is reaching critical proportions but they have also pointed to misleading statistics to suggest terrorists are attempting to enter the United States through the southern border.

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