We’re not the only ones who oppose President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the border. A bipartisan group of 58 senior national security officials issued a statement today in opposition to the declaration, and 23 former GOP Members of Congress sent an open letter to House and Senate Republicans urging passage of Rep. Castro’s resolution tomorrow. They join a majority of Americans who oppose the President’s decision, so we urge the House GOP to heed the advice of these officials and former colleagues and vote with us to terminate the declaration tomorrow. From the Washington Post:
“A bipartisan group of 58 former senior national security officials issued a statement Monday saying that ‘there is no factual basis’ for President Trump’s proclamation of a national emergency to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.”
“The joint statement, whose signatories include former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and former defense secretary Chuck Hagel, come a day before the House is expected to vote on a resolution to block Trump’s Feb. 15 declaration.”
“The former officials’ statement, which will be entered into the Congressional Record, is intended to support lawsuits and other actions challenging the national emergency proclamation and to force the administration to set forth the legal and factual basis for it.”
“‘Under no plausible assessment of the evidence is there a national emergency today that entitles the president to tap into funds appropriated for other purposes to build a wall at the southern border,’ the group said.”
“Trump’s actions are also drawing criticism from at least two dozen former Republican congressmen, who have signed an open letter urging passage of a joint resolution to terminate the emergency declaration. The letter argues that Trump is circumventing congressional authority.”
“The former security officials’ 11-page declaration sets out their argument disputing the factual basis for the president’s emergency.”
“Contrary to the president’s assertion, there is no documented emergency at the southern border related to terrorism or violent crime, they said, citing administration reports and independent think tank analyses.”
“The joint statement, whose signatories include former secretary of state Madeleine Albright and former defense secretary Chuck Hagel, come a day before the House is expected to vote on a resolution to block Trump’s Feb. 15 declaration.”
“The former officials’ statement, which will be entered into the Congressional Record, is intended to support lawsuits and other actions challenging the national emergency proclamation and to force the administration to set forth the legal and factual basis for it.”
“‘Under no plausible assessment of the evidence is there a national emergency today that entitles the president to tap into funds appropriated for other purposes to build a wall at the southern border,’ the group said.”
“Trump’s actions are also drawing criticism from at least two dozen former Republican congressmen, who have signed an open letter urging passage of a joint resolution to terminate the emergency declaration. The letter argues that Trump is circumventing congressional authority.”
“The former security officials’ 11-page declaration sets out their argument disputing the factual basis for the president’s emergency.”
“Contrary to the president’s assertion, there is no documented emergency at the southern border related to terrorism or violent crime, they said, citing administration reports and independent think tank analyses.”
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