Trump overstepping authority to build US-Mexico wall: Civil rights group

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on its website said that US President Trump's signing executive orders directing the federal government to fund construction of a wall along the United States’ border with Mexico is disappointing. The civil rights group is asking a judge to block the Trump administration from constructing a border wall with money obtained through his national emergency declaration.

ACLU filed the request Thursday on behalf of the border and the Sierra Club environment group in California. On the site, the group also said they will fight any draconian immigration policy Trump may come up with on every step of the way.

As per court papers, President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive powers by diverting funds from the Department of Defense to Homeland Security for a border wall. Congress had voted to provide less than $1.4 billion for border barriers. The decision has left some Democrats and Republicans annoyed that the president is abusing his powers by ignoring Congress’ constitutional control over spending. Trump announced that he planned to displace $3.6 billion from military construction to erecting border barriers.

The request by ACLU was filed as part of a February legal challenge and comes after Congress' efforts to stop Trump from diverting funds failed.

16 states, including California, New York and Colorado, have filed against the emergency declaration on similar grounds. Trump has blasted any legal action.

US Customs and Border Protection in the meanwhile said that it will begin construction by Thursday with funds allotted in 2018. This will involve approximately 13 miles of levee construction in the Rio Grande Valley.