Story highlights West Wing officials are insisting on nearly all of their demands

"A wall does not equal border security," a senior administration official said

Washington (CNN) A key reason why the White House has not agreed to a deal that would reopen the federal government is that West Wing officials are insisting on nearly all of their demands for clamping down on the nation's immigration system, sources inside the White House and Capitol Hill said.

President Donald Trump had signaled to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he was ready to take the deal on the table Friday afternoon -- a wall on the border in exchange for providing legal status for the undocumented immigrants known as the Dreamers, the sources said.

But sources with knowledge of the discussions said a wall alone does not come close to meeting White House demands.

"A wall does not equal border security," a senior administration official said, signaling the White House position on immigration is hardening.

An aide to a senior Democratic lawmaker laughed when told of that official's statement. Another key Democratic aide complained Schumer attempted to meet the President more than halfway, essentially offering to pay for Trump's signature campaign promise in exchange for protecting the Dreamers.

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