Trump and border

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval opposes President Donald Trump's current proposal to send thousands of National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border to help federal officials fight illegal immigration and drug trafficking, his spokeswoman said Friday. The Trump administration has not contacted the Republican governor's office about the idea, press secretary Mary-Sarah Kinner said in an email to The Associated Press. But as proposed, Sandoval "does not think this would be an appropriate use of the Nevada National Guard," Kinner wrote. Trump said Thursday he wants to send 2,000 to 4,000 Guard members to the border. Republican governors of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas back the deployment. Kinner said the Nevada Guard has participated in past border security missions that involved both a "surveillance and life-saving mission." "If a proposal that was consistent with life-saving missions was necessary and/or requested, (Sandoval) would consider such a request," she said. Nevada's … [Read more...] about Nevada GOP Gov. Sandoval Bucks Trump Border Plan

In a prepared statement Becerra said: "When we said that a medieval wall along the U.S.-Mexico border does not belong in the 21st century, we meant it. There are environmental and public health laws in place, and we continue to believe that the Trump Administration is violating those laws. We will not stand idly by. We are committed to protecting our people, our values and our economy from federal overreach." … [Read more...] about California attorney general says he’ll appeal ruling allowing Trump border wall projects to proceed

President Donald Trump declares a national emergency in order to fund his proposed wall at the Mexican border, it will set a "bad precedent," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said Friday. ‘I think it’s a bad precedent and it contravenes the power of the purse that comes from the elected representatives of the people," the Iowa Republican told CNBC's "Squawk Box." Instead, negotiations are still necessary to resolve the government shutdown, with government workers on Friday missing their first paychecks during the impasse between Trump and House Democrats over the wall. Negotiations between Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer ended on Wednesday with the president calling the talks a "total waste of time." Grassley Friday said if Trump declares a national emergency, it will end up being challenged in the courts "almost immediately." He also said he doesn't understand why there can't be a compromise, as many in both the House and Senate have … [Read more...] about Grassley: Trump Border Order Would Set ‘Bad Precedent’

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall is a “racist symbol,” though he did say that additional barriers are needed on the Southwest border. “I am comfortable with barriers that involve vehicles, fences. There are appropriate places where border guards have convinced me that some additional barriers could be useful,” Merkley told CNN’s “New Day” Tuesday morning. “But what I hear, when you separate the border guards from their superiors, what they say is, ‘Look, what we need are sensors to determine if somebody is approaching the border and we need more personnel to be able to respond quickly to intercept them,’ — that those are the key two things,” he continued. “There’s nothing magical about a 30-foot wall and, in fact, that has become now a symbol really — a symbol of this administration’s policies — and it’s a racist … [Read more...] about Jeff Merkley: Trump Border Wall a ‘Racist Symbol’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate opponents of President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border moved within a hair Thursday of having enough votes to prevail, and one Republican suggested he risks a rebuff by the GOP-led chamber if he doesn't change course.Trump's move would "turn a border crisis into a constitutional crisis," veteran Sen. Lamar Alexander said on the Senate floor. But he stopped just short of saying he'd support a resolution blocking the president's move. Had Alexander pledged his vote, it would probably be enough for the Senate to pass a measure repealing the emergency declaration.Speaking later to reporters, Alexander, R-Tenn., warned what might happen if Trump doesn't settle for using other money he can access without declaring an emergency."He can build a wall and avoid a dangerous precedent and I hope he'll do that," Alexander said. "So that would change the voting situation if he would agree to do that."The Democratic-led House … [Read more...] about Trump Border Emergency Foes Close in on Needed Senate Votes