REP LIEU STATEMENT ON TRUMP DECLARING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY FOR BORDER WALLREP LIEU STATEMENT ON TRUMP DECLARING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY TO BUILD BORDER WALL

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after it was reported that the President will declare a national emergency in order to divert funding for a border wall.

"Trump's proposed Declaration of a National Emergency is an authoritarian power grab that will be struck down in the courts. The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the ‘Power of the Purse', and Trump cannot override the Constitution with a fake declaration. There is no national emergency. Based on the Trump Administration's own data, border apprehensions are down 75% from 2000 to 2018; both violent and property crime are down across the US; and 80% to 90% of illegal drugs come through legal checkpoints.

"In addition, Trump appears to seek to redirect funds from helps disaster prone areas in California and military construction that helps military families. Hurting disaster victims and military families to build a medieval wall is not the dumbest idea ever, but it comes pretty close."

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