Meng Will Introduce ‘No Walls Act’ to Prevent Trump’s 'Fake' Emergency

A partial border wall separates the U.S. and Mexico in the Sonora Desert. Photo by Wonderlane/Flickr

By David Brand

No Wall. No National Emergency.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng announced Thursday that she would introduce a bill to block President Donald Trump from declaring a national emergency in order to build a border wall between the United State and Mexico.

The “No Walls Act” has a finely tailored aim: The bill would prohibit the construction of barriers — including walls or fences — along the border with Mexico if national emergencies are declared during government shutdowns.

“It is unconscionable that President Trump is threatening to side-step Congress and declare a fake national emergency in order to build his wall, as funding for the government and more than 800,000 federal workers hangs in the balance,” said Meng. “We must send a clear message to the President that creating this type of manufactured emergency for the sole purpose of securing an unrealistic campaign promise is unacceptable.”

Meng said she planned to introduce the bill on Friday and said that declaring a national emergency would violate the Constitution.

“There can be legitimate national emergencies. Federal agencies can construct authorized border barriers. But the President can’t just refuse to fund the government, say [‘Emergency’] and get whatever political wish he desires,” she said. “That’s not how the Constitution works.”