States sue Trump for national emergency declaration to build wall

Zahriah Balentine

Staff Writer

Led by California, 16 states

filed a lawsuit in the 9^thCircuit Court against the White House’s recent national emergency declaration.

The Feb. 18 declaration would allow the bypassing of congress in order to divert money from other areas, including the military, to pay for a wall on the U.S. Mexican border.

President Donald Trump predicted the lawsuit last week in a tweet saying, “As I predicted, 16 states lead mostly by open border Democrats and the radical left have filed a lawsuit in, of course, the ninth Circuit! California, the state that has wasted billions of dollars. They are out of control fast train with no hope of completion seems in charge.”

Trump made the declaration after signing a new funding to avoid another government shut down. Trump said that $1.4 billion bill was not enough to address what he said was a crisis at the southern border.

The suit was filed in the liberal 9^thCircuit where judges have already ruled against the president and nine major cases. It seeks an injunction to stop the president from building a barrier at the border while the case is argued.

Markus Brooks, a junior criminal justice major from Bloomington, Ill., is displeased with the president misusing the separation of powers.

“I agree with the 16 states to file a lawsuit on Donald Trump. Those crossing the border are not a military threat. There are clearly other government agencies that need funding. Money that could be spent on other government agencies is being invested into a wall that will not be finished by the time Trumps term is over and will not stop people who are trying to cross the border. This is all about separation of powers and the president is abusing his. There are clear lines when it comes to the separation of powers and the President is willing to go around Congress to get the wall he wants.”

The 16 states argue that it’s not an emergency and the president cannot divert money congress already appropriated for another purpose.

Attorney General of California, Xavier Becerra addressed how the president’s national emergency declaration would affect millions of people in other states in an interview with MSNBC.

“The president admitted that there’s not a basis for the declaration. He admitted there’s no crisis at the border. He’s now trying to rob funds that were allocated by congress legally to the various states and people of our states,” said Becerra

He continued, “The separation of powers is being violated, we’re going to go out there and make sure that Donald Trump cannot steal money from the states and people who need them, since we paid the taxpayer dollars to Washington, D.C., to get those services.”

The President said the 1976 law allows him to build the wall because “Narcotics, crime, and a surge of immigrants at the border is a national security risk.”

Paola Martinez, a sophomore psychology major from Dallas, Texas., recalls the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001 and how the borders were affected.

“With me being from Texas, I’ve seen it. It’s bad but he’s basically blowing it out of proportion. He shouldn’t be doing this much over the border because in 2001 when 9/11 happened, it was really bad for all borders, but nobody started building walls so I feel like it’s the same with this situation. You shouldn’t have to build a wall. People jump walls and there are ways to get over. Nothing is impossible and someone that wants to migrate here will migrate here,” she stated.

Martinez also mentioned that building a wall is ruining the homes and lives of people who currently live by the border.

“I would sue him too! He wants to build a wall on other people’s property, other people’s homes. He’s invading the lives of people that live there. It shouldn’t have to come to this because this is America. As one of our values, we’re known as the melting pot. So, people come here and bring their culture and he’s stopping that. He stopping what are forefathers wanted,” she declared.

This national emergency declaration can play out for a year. According to the Brennan Center, there have been 58 national emergencies between 1978 and 2018. Out of all national emergencies, 31 are still in effect today.