This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/us/judge-blocks-trump-border-wall.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
U.S. Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Shift $2.5 Billion to Pay for Border Wall U.S. Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Shift $2.5 Billion to Pay for Border Wall
(about 1 hour later)
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge in Northern California on Friday permanently blocked the Trump administration from using $2.5 billion in contested funding to build barriers along the United States’ southwestern border, dealing a blow to the White House’s efforts to fund a border wall without Congressional approval. LOS ANGELES — A federal judge in Northern California on Friday permanently blocked the Trump administration from using $2.5 billion in contested funding to build barriers along the United States’ southwestern border, dealing a blow to the White House’s efforts to fund a border wall without congressional approval.
Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, who ruled at once on two pending lawsuits against the administration, stated President Trump’s efforts to shift Department of Defense funds toward the border project were “unlawful.”Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, who ruled at once on two pending lawsuits against the administration, stated President Trump’s efforts to shift Department of Defense funds toward the border project were “unlawful.”
The decision follows an earlier temporary injunction, issued last month, in which Judge Gilliam said the White House’s efforts did not “square with fundamental separation of powers principles dating back to the earliest days of our Republic.”The decision follows an earlier temporary injunction, issued last month, in which Judge Gilliam said the White House’s efforts did not “square with fundamental separation of powers principles dating back to the earliest days of our Republic.”
The White House had sought to direct $2.5 billion from counterdrug programs in the Department of Defense toward building the wall.The White House had sought to direct $2.5 billion from counterdrug programs in the Department of Defense toward building the wall.
The president’s critics, who said he was overstepping his constitutional authority, denounced that action, which followed a monthslong impasse between the White House and Congress, and a partial government shutdown.The president’s critics, who said he was overstepping his constitutional authority, denounced that action, which followed a monthslong impasse between the White House and Congress, and a partial government shutdown.
A pair of lawsuits soon followed: one filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition; and the other filed by the State of California and 19 other states.A pair of lawsuits soon followed: one filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition; and the other filed by the State of California and 19 other states.
Mr. Gilliam issued decisions on both cases Friday. Combined, the rulings prevent the use of the funds on projects in El Paso, Tex.; Tucson and Yuma, Ariz.; and El Centro, Calif.Mr. Gilliam issued decisions on both cases Friday. Combined, the rulings prevent the use of the funds on projects in El Paso, Tex.; Tucson and Yuma, Ariz.; and El Centro, Calif.
The president’s critics applauded the decision.The president’s critics applauded the decision.
“All President Trump has succeeded in building is a constitutional crisis, threatening immediate harm to our state,” Attorney General Xavier Becerra of California said.“All President Trump has succeeded in building is a constitutional crisis, threatening immediate harm to our state,” Attorney General Xavier Becerra of California said.
Gloria Smith, an attorney at the Sierra Club, said in a statement released after the decision: “We applaud the court’s decision to protect our Constitution, communities, and the environment today. We’ve seen the damage that the ever-expanding border wall has inflicted on communities and the environment for decades.”Gloria Smith, an attorney at the Sierra Club, said in a statement released after the decision: “We applaud the court’s decision to protect our Constitution, communities, and the environment today. We’ve seen the damage that the ever-expanding border wall has inflicted on communities and the environment for decades.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday night.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday night.