US president Donald Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised southern border wall.
By Catherine Lucey, Lisa Mascaro and Zeke Miller
January 11 2019 8:34 AM
US president Donald Trump is edging closer to declaring a national emergency to fund his long-promised southern border wall.
Pressure is mounting to resolve a three-week impasse over the issue which has closed parts of the US government, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers without pay.
Some 800,000 staff are set to miss their first pay cheque under the stoppage on Friday, and Washington is coming close to setting a dubious record for the longest government shutdown in American history.
When I took the Oath of Office…. pic.twitter.com/GDhIqteKpv
Those markers – along with growing effects on national parks, food inspections and the economy overall – have left some Republicans on Capitol Hill increasingly uncomfortable with Mr Trump’s demands.
Asked about the plight of those going without pay, the president shifted focus, saying he felt badly “for people that have family members that have been killed” by criminals who came over the border.
Mr Trump spoke during a visit to McAllen, Texas, and the Rio Grande on Thursday to highlight what he calls a crisis of drugs and crime.
He said that “if for any reason we don’t get this going” – meaning an agreement with House Democrats who have refused to approve the 5.7 billion dollars (£4.4 billion) he is demanding for the wall – “I will declare a national emergency”.
Mr Trump is consulting with White House lawyers and allies about using presidential emergency powers to take unilateral action to construct the wall over the objections of US congress.
He claimed his lawyers told him the action would withstand legal scrutiny “100%”.
