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US shutdown: Trump renews national emergency threat over wall | US shutdown: Trump renews national emergency threat over wall |
(about 5 hours later) | |
US President Donald Trump has renewed a threat to declare a national emergency to fund the construction of a wall on the Mexican border. | US President Donald Trump has renewed a threat to declare a national emergency to fund the construction of a wall on the Mexican border. |
A row with Democrats over funding the wall has left the government partially shut down for 20 days, leaving some 800,000 federal employees unpaid. | A row with Democrats over funding the wall has left the government partially shut down for 20 days, leaving some 800,000 federal employees unpaid. |
On Saturday, the shutdown becomes the longest in US history. | On Saturday, the shutdown becomes the longest in US history. |
Mr Trump says the wall, a key campaign pledge, is needed to tackle a security crisis of illegal immigration. | Mr Trump says the wall, a key campaign pledge, is needed to tackle a security crisis of illegal immigration. |
The Democrats say the wall is an "immorality" and a waste of taxpayers' money. | The Democrats say the wall is an "immorality" and a waste of taxpayers' money. |
President Trump has refused to sign legislation to fund and reopen the government if it does not include $5.7bn (£4.5bn) for the wall. | President Trump has refused to sign legislation to fund and reopen the government if it does not include $5.7bn (£4.5bn) for the wall. |
What's behind Mr Trump's threat and what could happen? | What's behind Mr Trump's threat and what could happen? |
He issued the threat on a visit on Thursday to a border patrol station in McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. | He issued the threat on a visit on Thursday to a border patrol station in McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. |
He said that if Congress did not approve funding for the wall, he would "probably... I would almost say definitely" declare a national emergency to bypass lawmakers. | He said that if Congress did not approve funding for the wall, he would "probably... I would almost say definitely" declare a national emergency to bypass lawmakers. |
"I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency," he said. | "I have the absolute right to declare a national emergency," he said. |
In a later interview with Fox News, he doubled down, declaring: "If we don't make a deal with Congress, most likely I will do that. | |
"I would actually say I would. I can't imagine any reason why not, because I'm allowed to do it." | |
"The law is 100 percent on my side," he said. | |
Mr Trump would have the right to undertake such a construction project in times of war and national emergency, usually allocating funds from the department of defence. | Mr Trump would have the right to undertake such a construction project in times of war and national emergency, usually allocating funds from the department of defence. |
But bypassing Congress would be hugely controversial, sparking allegations of the overuse of executive powers and it would almost certainly face huge legal challenges. | But bypassing Congress would be hugely controversial, sparking allegations of the overuse of executive powers and it would almost certainly face huge legal challenges. |
Some US media reports suggest the White House is considering diverting some of the $13.9bn (£10.9bn) allocated last year by Congress for disaster relief in such areas as Puerto Rico, Texas and California to pay for the wall. | Some US media reports suggest the White House is considering diverting some of the $13.9bn (£10.9bn) allocated last year by Congress for disaster relief in such areas as Puerto Rico, Texas and California to pay for the wall. |
NBC News reported on Thursday that Mr Trump had been briefed on such a plan but the White House denied it. | NBC News reported on Thursday that Mr Trump had been briefed on such a plan but the White House denied it. |
Analysts say the national emergency move would provide political cover to reopen government while allowing Mr Trump to argue he has done all he can to fulfil his campaign promise. | Analysts say the national emergency move would provide political cover to reopen government while allowing Mr Trump to argue he has done all he can to fulfil his campaign promise. |
The BBC's David Willis in Washington says that, with no further talks with the Democrats planned, this now seems the most likely option for the president. | The BBC's David Willis in Washington says that, with no further talks with the Democrats planned, this now seems the most likely option for the president. |
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally, said there was no other pathway forward. | Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally, said there was no other pathway forward. |
What did Mr Trump say at the border? | What did Mr Trump say at the border? |
He was speaking at McAllen station, behind a display of weapons and cash said to have been seized by the border patrol. | He was speaking at McAllen station, behind a display of weapons and cash said to have been seized by the border patrol. |
He was joined by border patrol agents, and relatives of people killed by illegal immigrants. | He was joined by border patrol agents, and relatives of people killed by illegal immigrants. |
"If we don't have a barrier... you're not going to be able to solve this problem," he said, adding that people faced "hard work", "gruelling problems" and "a lot of death" without it. | "If we don't have a barrier... you're not going to be able to solve this problem," he said, adding that people faced "hard work", "gruelling problems" and "a lot of death" without it. |
Mr Trump added: "They say a wall is medieval... There are some things that work." | Mr Trump added: "They say a wall is medieval... There are some things that work." |
The president said in a national address on Tuesday the wall was needed to stem a "growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border", involving "thousands of illegal immigrants". | The president said in a national address on Tuesday the wall was needed to stem a "growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border", involving "thousands of illegal immigrants". |
He pointed to illegal drug supplies, people trafficking and criminal acts by illegal immigrants in the US. | He pointed to illegal drug supplies, people trafficking and criminal acts by illegal immigrants in the US. |
The Democrats say the wall is "ineffective" and "unnecessary" and an expensive bill to taxpayers that the president had said Mexico would foot. | The Democrats say the wall is "ineffective" and "unnecessary" and an expensive bill to taxpayers that the president had said Mexico would foot. |
Has Trump changed his pledge on funding the wall? | Has Trump changed his pledge on funding the wall? |
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Trump said he never meant that Mexico would make a one-time payment for the wall. | Speaking on Thursday, Mr Trump said he never meant that Mexico would make a one-time payment for the wall. |
"When I said Mexico would pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people... obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," he said. | "When I said Mexico would pay for the wall in front of thousands and thousands of people... obviously I never meant Mexico would write a cheque," he said. |
However, this is contradicted by an archived campaign memo from 2016, where Mr Trump outlined how he planned to "compel Mexico to make a one-time payment" of $5-10bn (£4bn-£8bn) for the wall. | However, this is contradicted by an archived campaign memo from 2016, where Mr Trump outlined how he planned to "compel Mexico to make a one-time payment" of $5-10bn (£4bn-£8bn) for the wall. |
Mr Trump said on Thursday that, instead of a direct payment, Mexico would be "paying for the wall indirectly, many, many times over", under a new trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada. | Mr Trump said on Thursday that, instead of a direct payment, Mexico would be "paying for the wall indirectly, many, many times over", under a new trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada. |
Economists have disputed this and critics say that any savings incurred due to the deal would go directly to private businesses rather than flow into US Treasury. | Economists have disputed this and critics say that any savings incurred due to the deal would go directly to private businesses rather than flow into US Treasury. |
How is the shutdown progressing? | How is the shutdown progressing? |
Partial shutdowns occur when Congress cannot agree a budget by a certain deadline or the president refuses to sign it. | Partial shutdowns occur when Congress cannot agree a budget by a certain deadline or the president refuses to sign it. |
This shutdown, which began on 22 December, has closed 25% of the government. Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay off - and the rest are working without pay. | This shutdown, which began on 22 December, has closed 25% of the government. Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay off - and the rest are working without pay. |
The first pay day since the shutdown falls on Friday and will pass without workers getting salaries. They include prison guards, airport security screening staff, and members of the FBI. | The first pay day since the shutdown falls on Friday and will pass without workers getting salaries. They include prison guards, airport security screening staff, and members of the FBI. |
Some affected federal workers who spoke to the BBC said they had resorted to a number of measures, including taking other jobs, racking up credit card bills, tapping into savings or taking on loans at high interest rates to pay their bills. | Some affected federal workers who spoke to the BBC said they had resorted to a number of measures, including taking other jobs, racking up credit card bills, tapping into savings or taking on loans at high interest rates to pay their bills. |
Thousands have also applied for unemployment benefits. | Thousands have also applied for unemployment benefits. |