16 US states have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over his use of an emergency declaration to secure funding for his planned wall on the US-Mexico border

President Trump declared the emergency last week – in a bid to divert billions of dollars from military construction to pay for the project.

The wall was one of President Trump’s key campaign promises, although he continuously insisted Mexico would pay for it.

California is leading the coalition of States attempting the action.

Trump

The state's Attorney General Xavier Bacerra said President Trump is abusing his power.

"President Trump treats the rule of law with utter contempt,” he said.

"He knows there is no border crisis, he knows his emergency declaration is unwarranted and he admits he will likely lose this case in court.

"Today, on Presidents Day, we take President Trump to court to block his misuse of presidential power.

"We're suing President Trump to stop him from unilaterally robbing taxpayer funds lawfully set aside by Congress for the people of our states.

"For most of us, the office of the presidency is not a place for theatre."

The 14 other states joining California and New York in the lawsuit are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia.

National emergency

Declaring the emergency last week, President Trump said “We are talking about an invasion of our country with drugs; with human traffickers; with all types of criminals and gangs.”

He said he "didn't need to do this" but wanted to get the wall built faster than he otherwise could.
He also said he expected legal challenges – but suspected he expected to eventually win in the US Supreme Court, which shifted to the Right with Trump’s appointment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh last year.

Leader of the Democratic Party have described the emergency declaration as "unlawful", adding that it is "over a crisis that does not exist."