The American Civil Liberties Union is asking a judge to block the Trump administration from constructing a border wall with money obtained through his national emergency declaration.
The civil rights group filed the request Thursday in California on behalf of communities along the border and the Sierra Club environmental group.
The court papers say President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive powers by diverting funds from the Department of Defence to Homeland Security for a border wall.
WATCH: Trump threatens USMCA over border security with Mexico
The request was filed as part of a February legal challenge.
The request comes after Congressional efforts to stop Trump from diverting funds failed.
Get breaking National news
READ MORE: Pope Francis says those who want to build walls will become ‘prisoners themselves’
- Eby says Ottawa is rewarding Alberta’s ‘bad behaviour’ with pipeline agreement
- More Ontario stores to open on Victoria Day in move government says brings ‘flexibility’
- Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith seeks advice on next steps following nomination loss
- Lawful access bill could lead to exit from Canada, major VPN provider says
In addition, a group of 16 states, including California, New York and Colorado, have also filed against the emergency declaration on similar grounds.
Trump has blasted the legal action.
WATCH: Trump says he’ll close the border with Mexico or ‘tariff their cars’
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.