Donald Trump declares national emergency to build wall with Mexico

Radio France International News from America

February 18, 2019

Under the pretext of protecting its citizens from the flow of drugs, criminals and illegal immigrants, President of the United States, Donald Trump, has declared the "state of emergency" national to deal with to what he describes as a threat to the country's security.

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Thanks to this trick, Donald Trump will have access to some $ 8 billion, two billion more than Congress denied him Thursday, to continue building its wall on the border with Mexico.

The president's decision immediately condemned the Democrats and some Republicans, who described the abuse as unconstitutional. The president has thus transformed a heated political debate into a fundamental confrontation on the separation of powers.

According to political scientist Mark P. Jones of Rice University in Texas, "There are several factors that go against the President's decree, the most important of which is that Congress has already pbaded legislation on this issue and has made it clear that he did not agree that there was an emergency. "

In addition, "although we believe that it is an emergency, the US legislation in this area was not designed for this type of maneuver, it l & # 39; was before the Congress could act, so that the president can protect the interests of the country, "he said. l & # 39; badyst

The latest presidential urgency statements in the US They came from Bush. The father did it in 1990 in response to Iraq's invasion of Iraq as part of the war in the Persian Gulf. The son, in November 2001, after the terrorist attacks of al-Qaeda.

On both occasions, leaders transferred money from the military to use for military purposes. Neither of the two actions was specifically rejected by Congress. In the case of Trump, unlike Bush, the president takes action after failing to persuade lawmakers.

Respondent: Mark P. Jones, political scientist at Rice University in Texas.

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