Trump will declare a national emergency to build the border wall

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said he had spoken by phone with President Donald Trump and the White House leader confirmed that he was prepared to sign a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown and declare a national emergency to mobilize funds to build a wall along the Mexican border.AFPreport

The White House later confirmed the information. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders affirmed that the declaration of a national emergency was to "ensure the prevention of a security and humanitarian crisis at the border".

The US Senate on the afternoon of February 14 passed a border security funding bill to end the bipartisan dispute and avoid another government shutdown. The bill does not include the $5.7 billion that President Trump requested for a border wall, but only nearly $1.4 billion to build nearly 90 km of fence.

The national emergency allows Trump to build the wall without congressional approval. The US president could face lawsuits from lawmakers if he tries to bypass Congress, but he insists he will win the legal battle.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the declaration of a national emergency was an "abuse of power" aimed at distracting from the fact that President Trump had failed to force Mexico to pay for the border wall as he had promised during the election campaign.