Judge stops Trump from using $2.5 billion for border wall, Trump appeals ruling
US President Donald Trump has appealed a federal judge’s ruling that prevents him from using $2.5 billion in military funding for building a border wall in California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
On Friday, California judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. issued the ruling, describing as “unlawful” Trump’s decision to shift the sum from the Pentagon toward constructing high-priority segments of his promised border wall.
“These rulings critically stop President Trump’s illegal money grab to divert $2.5 billion of unauthorized funding for his pet project,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “All President Trump has succeeded in building is a constitutional crisis, threatening immediate harm to our state.”
In response, Trump on Saturday said that he would “immediately” appeal the ruling, calling it a "disgrace".
At a press conference at a summit of leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in Japan. he said, "We're immediately appealing it and we think we'll win the appeal," adding, "There was no reason that that should have happened.”
In a court filing, US Department of Justice lawyers said they were officially appealing the ruling to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
Gilliam issued his decree on two suits, one that was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition and another lodged by California and 19 other states.
“This decision upholds the basic principle that the president has no power to spend taxpayer money without Congress’ approval,” Dror Ladin, staff attorney with the ACLU, said.
Trump has made immigration a cornerstone of his presidency and had promised during his election campaign that he would build a wall along the US-Mexico border.
Congress had denied his request for $5.7 billion for the wall and instead approved nearly $1.4 billion.
On February 15, Trump declared a national emergency to bypass congressional approval and secure funding for the construction of his controversial wall.
Israeli war criminals 'not welcome', US city says after ICC ruling
US House passes bill targeting charities and pro-Palestine groups
US closes embassy in Kiev over potential ‘significant’ air attack by Russia
VIDEO | Former FBI agent criticizes US Congress for 'outright corruption'
IRGC chief urges Muslim countries to cut aid routes to Israel
'New chapter in cooperation': Iran, Venezuela sign new MoUs
Jordan sentences former lawmaker for supporting Palestinian resistance
Basij volunteer forces hold massive drills in southwestern Iran
Israeli war criminals 'not welcome', US city says after ICC ruling
US vetoing of Gaza ceasefire resolution ‘disgraceful’: Iran’s UN envoy
VIDEO | IAEA adopts anti-Iran resolution tabled by E3
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
