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Protesters in U.S. cities to gather against Trump’s emergency border tactics

Feb 18, 2019 | 10:29 AM

WASHINGTON — Protesters are gathering today in downtown Washington and other cities across the United States to denounce President Donald Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico.

Trump made the declaration Friday as an end-run around Congress, which has provided $1.4 billion in border-security money — well short of his demand for $5.7 billion for a physical barrier along the border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants, drugs and crime.

Democrats and some Republicans insist the tactic, which gives the president access to nearly $7 billion in additional funding, is a violation of the constitution and a flagrant abuse of executive power.

The non-profit advocacy group MoveOn.org says more than 10,000 protesters are expected at 250 events in cities and towns across the country, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Houston.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the government of California and others have already promised swift legal action to fight Trump’s decision, while lawmakers on Capitol Hill are preparing to introduce a resolution to repeal it.

Trump, who acknowledged that the declaration will likely end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, appeared to undercut the sense of urgency by admitting he could take more time to build the wall — comments the White House says have been misconstrued.

The Canadian Press

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