[V]ermont is now one of 20 states challenging President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration and attempt to divert funding to a border wall with Mexico.
Attorney General TJ Donovan initially said Vermont would only join the suit if his office determined the move would divert money from Vermont. The AG’s office found that the declaration would threaten roughly $1 million that currently supports Vermont drug interdiction and law enforcement.
“I think it’s incredibly important that Vermont’s voice is heard, that we believe Trump’s actions are illegal, and that this is a manufactured political crisis to score points to build his wall, which I oppose,” Donovan said in a press release. “To take any money dedicated to our state, to our public safety, to score political points, I object to that.”
The lawsuit alleges the president’s declaration to be unconstitutional and unlawful. The involved states are looking for declaratory and injunctive relief to block the emergency declaration, the unauthorized construction of the border wall and the use of what they say are illegally appropriated congressional funds.
Attorneys general from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Wisconsin also joined the suit Wednesday.
Lawmakers in Congress are also seeking to block the declaration via legislation, though the bill will almost certainly face a veto once it hits the president’s desk. When Trump made the declaration on Feb. 15, he said, “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster.”
“The facts do not support President Trump’s rhetoric or his declaration,” the press release said. “Unlawful southern border entries are within historic lows, immigrants are less likely than native-born citizens to commit crimes, and illegal drugs are more likely to come through official ports of entry. There is no credible evidence to suggest that a border wall would decrease crime rates.”
The coalition includes the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.
