The Senate's Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, has said his party has agreed a deal with Republicans to re-open the US Government.
The country woke up on Monday to a country with its government in limbo, as key services were interrupted by Congress's failure to pass a budget.
During a speech on the chamber's floor, Mr Schumer said: "Now there is a real pathway to get a bill on the floor and through the Senate," he said of legislation to halt any deportation efforts aimed at "Dreamers," who were brought to the country as children and are now here illegally.
Over the weekend, the Senate inched closer but ultimately fell short of an agreement that would have reopened federal agencies.
Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell raised Democrats' hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown on Monday, saying "I hope and intend" to reach agreement soon on immigration and other contentious issues — if the Democrats agree now to a stopgap spending measure lasting a little less than three weeks.
The Senate was set to vote at midday EST on that measure — to cut off a Democratic filibuster — with most government offices cut back drastically or even closed on Monday.
On Sunday night, Democrats appeared to be holding out for a firmer commitment from McConnell. "We have yet to reach an agreement on a path forward," Schumer said.
There were hours of behind-the-scenes talks over the weekend between the leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers over how to end the display of legislative dysfunction, which began at midnight Friday after Democrats blocked a temporary spending measure. Democrats have sought to use the spending bill to win concessions, including protections for roughly 700,000 younger immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children.
Republicans have appeared increasingly confident that Democrats are bearing the brunt of criticism for the shutdown and that they will ultimately buckle. The White House and GOP leaders said they would not negotiate with Democrats on immigration until the government is reopened.
President Donald Trump on Monday accused Democrats of prioritizing services and security for noncitizens over U.S. citizens. "Not good," his first tweet said. In a second tweet, he said, "Democrats have shut down our government in the interests of their far left base. They don't want to do it but are powerless!"
