16 states sue Trump to block wall funds

A COALITION of 16 US states led by California is suing President Donald Trump and top members of his administration to block his decision to declare a national emergency to obtain funds for building a wall along the US-Mexico border.

The lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday came after Trump invoked emergency powers on Friday to help build the wall that was his signature 2016 campaign promise.

Trump’s order would allow him to spend on the wall money that Congress appropriated for other purposes.

Congress declined to fulfill his request for US$5.7 billion to help build the wall this year.

“Today, on Presidents Day, we take President Trump to court to block his misuse of presidential power,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

“We’re suing President Trump to stop him from unilaterally robbing taxpayer funds lawfully set aside by Congress for the people of our states. For most of us, the office of the presidency is not a place for theater,” added Becerra, a Democrat.

The White House declined to comment on the filing.

In a budget deal passed by Congress to avert a second government shutdown, nearly US$1.4 billion was allocated toward border fencing. Trump’s emergency order would give him an additional US$6.7 billion.

Three Texas landowners and an environmental group filed the first suit against Trump’s move on Friday, saying it violated the Constitution and would infringe their property rights.

The challenges could slow Trump’s efforts to build the wall. The suits could end up at the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.

Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Michigan joined California in the lawsuit.

(Reuters)