US prepares to declare national emergency along border

White House officials are drafting a national emergency declaration along the southern border for President Donald Trump and have determined that more than $7 billion could be raised for a border wall,CNNon January 24, citing an internal document.

"The large number of aliens illegally entering the United States each day is a direct threat to our national safety and security and constitutes a national emergency," the draft reads. "Therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the National Emergencies Act, hereby declare that a national emergency exists at the southern border."

A government official said the draft statement was updated as early as last week.

Trump has previously said he would not rule out using his authority to declare a national emergency and direct the Department of Defense to build a border wall. Disagreements between the White House and Congress over funding for the border wall have led to a partial government shutdown since December 22, 2018. If Trump declares a national emergency, he will not need congressional approval to build the wall.

Under the options being considered, the administration could take $681 million from the budget; $3.6 billion from military construction funds, $3 billion from the Pentagon’s civil works funds and $200 million from Homeland Security funds to build the border wall, the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The US Department of Defense refused to respond to the above information, while the White House has not commented yet.

If the declaration is made, the US Army Corps of Engineers will be deployed to build the wall. The president’s plan is likely to be challenged in court and by Democrats, who argue that Trump cannot use his authority to declare a national emergency to free up taxpayer money to build the border wall he promised during his campaign.