Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

October 2019 – On July 26, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) gave the Trump administration leeway to use funds from the Department of Defense (DOD) to build sections of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The case began in February when the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on behalf of Sierra Club and Southern Border Communities Coalition, claiming the administration did not have the power to reallocate Pentagon funds to build the wall.

A federal district court in California originally prohibited the federal government’s use of DOD funds to build the wall. A subsequent appeal was made to the U.S Court of Appeals for the 9th District, and that court also denied the government’s request.

Subsequently, the case went before the SCOTUS where five justices ruled in favor of putting a hold on the lower court ruling, allowing the administration to use DOD funds to begin construction of the wall.

“We are pleased that the Supreme Court recognized that the lower courts should not have halted construction of walls on the southern border,” said Department of Justice spokesman Alexei Woltornist. “We will continue to vigorously defend the administration’s efforts to protect our nation.”

npr.org, 7/26/19; scotusblog.com, 7/26/19;
onenewsnow.com, 7/27/19; stream.org, 7/28/29