ACLU Comment on Potential National Emergency Declaration

NEW YORK — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today stated that President Trump will declare a national emergency.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, issued the following statement in response:

“President Trump’s hankering for a wall at the southern border cannot be justified by calling a national emergency. This would be a clear abuse of presidential power – one that sidesteps the role of Congress in the appropriation of funds. Shame on any member of Congress who doesn’t clearly and vigorously speak out on this illegitimate invocation of emergency authorities. The chickens will come to roost when the next president uses these powers to call a national emergency on gun control or climate change.”