President Donald Trump has said he would "love to see" the US government shut down if Congress does not agree 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 Trump was unlikely to extend a deadline when legal protections for young immigrants expire.
The government briefly closed last month amid political gridlock, reports the BBC.
Speaking on Tuesday to a White House law enforcement panel on gang violence, 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 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 Trump was "not advocating for the shutdown".
The press secretary said the president instead "wants a long-term deal and he wants a deal on immigration".