US states sue President over State of Emergency

Following Donald Trump’s declaration of a state of emergency to get funding for the Mexican border wall, 16 US states filed a lawsuit against the President. Headed by California, the states Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and Michigan joined in the lawsuit saying that they want to block Trump’s “misuse of presidential power”. According to them, he does not have the power to ignore Congress’s ruling. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said: “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 theatre”.

After Congress, led by Democrats, had refused his demand of $5.7bn to build the wall, Trump had declared the state of emergency on Friday to overcome the decision. Congress had voted on a deal only granting him $1.375bn for new border barriers earlier this month. By Trump’s own account, however, there is no actual need for the declaration but he had done so hoping to get the funding for his essential campaign promise. The state of emergency would enable the President to get up to $8bn in funding for the 2,000 miles of border to Mexico.

Trump’s decision has strongly been criticized for being made up so that he can fulfill his campaign promise. Experts say official numbers suggest no such immigration crisis.