U.S. House votes to block Trump's border emergency declaration

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The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to revoke President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to get funding for his wall on the border with Mexico.

In a 245-182 vote, the Democratic-majority House rejected Trump's assertion that he could use the money for the wall that had already been assigned to other purposes by Congress. The bill now moves to the Republican-run Senate.

If approved in the Senate, Trump, who declared the emergency after Congress refused to fund for the wall, has said he will veto the bill.

People gather to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to build a border wall, at Trump International Hotel & Tower in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Thirteen Republicans sided with Democrats in rejecting Trump's national emergency, which suggests Congress would not have the two-thirds majority of both chambers needed to override a veto from the president.

Lawmakers are using a provision from the National Emergencies Act to overrule the president, but it requires both chambers to vote for it and to complete voting within 18 days.

Republicans counter that problems with drug runners and human trafficking give merit to Trump's maneuver.

While Democratic leaders believed the bill is not about the merits of Trump's wall, but how the president is trampling on the Constitution by grabbing money that he can't obtain through normal means.

"This isn't about the border. This is about the constitution of the United States. This is not about politics. It's not about partisanship. It's about patriotism," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stressed on Monday.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 25, 2019.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump is trying to "bend the law" with his declaration of a national emergency on the southern border.

"What would stop a future president from claiming an emergency every week?" he asked.

The president took to Twitter on Monday to urge Senate Republicans to stick with him.

"I hope our great Republican Senators don't get led down the path of weak and ineffective Border Security," Trump wrote. "Without strong Borders, we don't have a Country – and the voters are on board with us. Be strong and smart; don't fall into the Democrats 'trap' of Open Borders and Crime!"

U.S. President Donald Trump's twitter screenshot /CGTN Photo

The president has called the situation at the southern border a "crisis" and on February 15, issued a declaration of emergency in order to bypass Congress and build a wall with military funding.

(With inputs from agencies)

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