A coalition of 16 U.S. states yesterday filed a multi-state lawsuit over president Donald Trump declaration of a national emergency at the U.S. border with Mexico.
The 16-state lawsuit seeks to block the emergency declaration; the construction of the wall and the diverting of state funds. The states allege the administration's declaration of a national emergency due to a manufactured crisis at the border is unlawful and unconstitutional.
The lawsuit also says the declaration exceeds the power of the executive office and violates the Constitution and federal statutes. It was filed Monday in the U.S. district court for the northern district of California.
"Today, on Presidents Day, we take President Trump to court to block his misuse of presidential power," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. "We're suing President Trump to stop him from unilaterally robbing taxpayer funds lawfully set aside by Congress for the people of our states."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier slammed Trump's emergency declaration "a national disgrace." He said Trump is using the country's highest office "to fan the flames of natives and xenophobia" by calling unlawful immigration a national emergency.
"Our message to the White House is clear: California will not be part of this political theatre. We will see you in court," he said.
The attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Main, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Virginia joined California in its suit.
A large number of advocacy groups are also challenging Trump's declaration.
Over the weekend, a joint lawsuit was submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. It cited the constitutional separation of powers, by which only Congress can address budgetary matters. It also says the declaration endangers wildlife.
"Many species of animals, including endangered species, are put at risk by this project, and all alternatives that protect wildlife and the environment must be considered by law," said the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Stephen Wells.
Trump is also being sued by human rights advocacy organizations. These include the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Citizen and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, said UPI.
The Public Citizen suit said "plaintiffs include three landowners in South Texas who were informed that the federal government would seek to build a wall on their properties if money were available in 2019 for construction of a border wall. The construction of a wall pursuant to the declaration threatens an imminent invasion of their privacy and the quiet enjoyment of their land, both during construction and after. Plaintiffs also include a non-profit environmental organization in Texas, whose members' ability to observe wildlife will be impaired by the construction of a border wall and the resulting destruction of critical habitat."
On Feb. 15,, Trump announced a national emergency so he could bypass Congress to fund his border wall with Mexico. The emergency declaration gives him special powers to redirect federal money dedicated to other projects.
The Democrat-controlled House refused to allocate the full funds Trump requested for his wall as part of a spending bill passed last week. Instead, the latest offer from Congress allows $1.4 billion in border security improvements.
