SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined 16 other state attorneys general in challenging President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on the U.S. southern border.
Led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the attorneys argue that both Trump’s declaration and the subsequent diversion of funds for a border wall — only possible as a result of the declaration — are unconstitutional and unlawful.
“Diverting funds that have been appropriated by Congress is a violation of the U.S. Constitution,” Raoul said Monday, Feb. 18, in a news release. “My office joined this lawsuit because I am committed to fighting this abuse of power.”
Congress gave Trump only $1.375 billion for new border barriers last week, part of an agreement to avoid another government shutdown.
Trump, however, would divert more than $6.5 billion for a wall by redirecting federal dollars from other programs for drug trade interruption, military construction and law enforcement initiatives, according to a Monday New York Times article.
Raoul and the other attorneys general say this action exceeds the power of the executive office. They seek to block the declaration and the wall construction through a court injunction.
