WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — No deal has been finalised on measures that would protect young immigrants on the DACA programme after a meeting with top congressional Democrats, President Donald Trump said Thursday.

“No deal was made last night on DACA,” the president tweeted, referring to talks with Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi.

“Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote,” he wrote.

“The WALL, which is already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls, will continue to be built,” Trump tweeted, referring to the proposed barrier along the US-Mexico border that was a cornerstone of his election platform.

Schumer and Pelosi emerged from a meeting with Trump late Wednesday stating that they had a “very productive” dinner meeting in which the discussion focused on the fate of young immigrants who arrived in the country illegally as children.

Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama protected such immigrants, known as “dreamers,” through his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) order.

But Trump rescinded that executive order, and urged Congress to craft a legal solution within the next six months.

While insisting there was no deal with the Democrats, Trump repeated a key Democratic argument in support of allowing young people who arrived illegally in the United States of no fault of their own to stay.

“Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!” Trump said in a later tweet.

“…They have been in our country for many years through no fault of their own – brought in by parents at young age. Plus BIG border security”.

Trump has maintained his desire to build a wall, even threatening a government shutdown last month if he did not get his way. Funding for its construction would likely be pursued through budget talks and not DACA legislation.