SOUTHERN BORDER — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration plans to ignore Congress yet again by siphoning off an additional $7.2 billion that Congress just appropriated for the Pentagon and divert it to build more harmful, deadly and useless border wall.
Working with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Sierra Club, the Southern Border Communities Coalition sued the Trump administration last year for acting beyond his authority and unlawfully bypassing Congress to fund the wall. The Constitution gives Congress alone the “power of the purse” and Congress denied the administration full funding.
Even though the case is still in litigation, no court has ruled that Trump’s diversion of funds is lawful. In fact, the transfer of funds has been ruled illegal in district court.
Vicki B. Gaubeca, Director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, issued the following statement:
“Like other communities in the nation, we want to live in peace and harmony with our neighbors, respect and value human life above everything else, protect our environment, and make sure families can thrive. Trump’s border wall is an affront to all of those things, as well as our binational character and quality of life. His wall threatens endangered species and access to water, disrupts the vibrant texture of our communities, and must be stopped. That’s why we will continue to work with our partners to make sure that our Constitution is upheld, our values respected and our quality of life preserved. We need to move away from the enforcement policies of the past and embrace a new border vision that respects human rights, expands public safety and welcomes residents and newcomers.”
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BORDER COMMUNITIES COALITION
The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) brings together organizations from San Diego, California to Brownsville, Texas, to ensure that border enforcement policies and practices are accountable and fair, respect human dignity and human rights, and prevent the loss of life in the region.
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